Original pieces of art are printed and replicated using flat stones or metal plates to make lithographs. The lithograph is created by the artist sketching a design straight onto the printing element with litho crayons or specialist grease pencils. The area is then coated with a chemical etch after the artist is pleased with the drawing on the stone. The procedure permanently adheres the oily sketching materials to the surface. The blank portions of the plate will attract moisture and resist lithographic ink, whereas the sections that have been drawn on will hold the ink. The unpainted sections are then cleaned with water to help stop the ink from spreading.