A lithograph is a print of a drawing realised on the ground surface of a
lime stone. The principle of this technique is based on the fact that water
and grease repel each other.
The following pages explain the steps to be made:
- With water and abrasives two lime stones are ground together. Those stones should be level!
- On the surface of the stone a drawing is to be made with fatty crayons or pencils.
- Once finished we dust the drawing with talc.
- We apply a thin layer of gum arabic solution across the whole stone. This causes the necessary chemical reactions on the surface of the stone.
- Before printing the stone has to be “cleaned”. The fatty drawing is taken away with white spirit and the arabic gum layer is taken away with water.
- From now on the stone is to be kept damp! We ink the stone by rolling up the
printing ink with a charged leather roller. Only the “washed out” drawing appears in printing ink. The rest of the stone is damp and not attached by printing ink.
- The paper that has to be printed is positioned on the stone. A tympan and backing sheet are positioned on top of it.
- The press-bed, with the stone on it, is moved to its starting position. The press-pressure is adjusted; the stone is passed through the press.
The pressure is now released and the press-bed is pulled back. The printing proof is carefully removed (and the stone immediately dampened!).
Lithography in action
Film and montage: Lukas Jonkman
Filmed and montaged: Wim Jonkman
Filmed at Lithography Workshop Obelisk