This section of a steelplate engraving of the same subject as those to the left indicates a more open tonal effect, due to the lines. This enlarged section shows the open lines when compared to the dark areas of ink seen to the far left. Planographic is the most common form of printing used today. This includes lithography , based on the antipathy of water and grease, whereby the grease pen image accepts the ink and the unmarked surface accepts the water, which then rejects the grease. Due to areas either being inked or not, there is no variation in inking tone as with the other two processes.
Variations occur instead through the amount of ink on the paper.
Lithographs can be done in a number of different styles. The pen and ink style, done with a grease pen. The chalk style, which done similarly to a crayon drawing, but on a lithographic stone that's been sanded to give a rough texture. Mezzotint effects, achieved by greasing the whole stone and then removing the grease by a variety of means. Lithotint, which is watered down lithographic ink washed onto the stone in watercolour-like washes for tints.