The antipathy of grease for water determines the process. The image is created with a grease-based compound. Watery textures can be created by painting with an oil and water solution. The plate is repeatedly inked with a roller, after being sponged with water. This is done until the proper amount of ink adheres to the greasy image, while the water removes excess ink from the ungreased areas.
Paper is placed on the plate, and it is run through a press.
Additional colors require separate plates and printing. Lithographs can be recognized by their painterly qualities of spontaneous brush strokes, watery textures, or crayon textures. The surface is flat, without embossing or plate marks. The original lithograph should not be confused with offset lithography, which is a photomechanical process used to produce posters and other reproduction prints. A silk or nylon mesh screen is treated with an ink-resistant material.