What Are The Four Main Types Of Printmaking?

There are four main types of printmaking, Relief, Intaglio, Lithography, and Screen-printing. The method and materials used in each type of printmaking are different and so are their outputs. In all methods for each color separate plate, stone, block, or stencil are required. Unique works, where the number of copies are very less, produced as monotypes or Mono-prints.

1- Relief Printing

The relief printing is the ancient form of printmaking. This style of printing offers a raised surface of the printing text or an image. The example of this type is a rubber stamp, which transfers an impression on a paper after applying ink on through the inkpad.

The material used for printmaking- The plate where embossing required, made from many types of materials such as wood, linoleum, Styrofoam or a cardboard. A roller called brayer used for spreading ink on the embossed plate with text or image for printmaking. The embossing is a skill of artist, who cuts off the negative area of the surface skillfully. Then a paper placed on top of the plates pressed by hands or machine. The mirror-image impression of plate transfers on the paper.

2.Intaglio
Intaglio printmaking method is opposite to the relief printing. In intaglio, an artist gouges images onto the printing plate and then rubs ink into these carved lines. To engrave picture or text on the plate, artist uses a V-shaped tool, called a Burin. The designer then makes grooves or gouges onto the surface of mild smooth steel metal plate. The surface of plexiglass works fine for this purpose also.
For final print operation, the filling of ink in the grooves done and extra ink cleared off. Only ink remains inside the gouged lines and plate surface cleaned up carefully. A water-soaked sheet then placed on the plate’s surface and run through the printing press. This way a great quality print is achievable.

3. Lithography
Lithography printmaking is the method works with the use of oil and water for printmaking. Lithography is unlike the other two methods of Relief printing and Intaglio. In this style of printing, there is no need for embossing or engraving. It is an art of creating quality printing from a flat stone or smooth metal plate. This works on a theory that grease attracts grease and repels water. In Lithography, an image drawn on a plate with a greasy material or crayon. Then water and printing ink applied on the surface. The greasy part absorbs the ink, while the wet area does not. This is how an excellent image is possible through this method.

4. Screen-Printing
Screen-printing or stencil printmaking uses a permanent thin plastic netted screen or a sheet with a design stenciled with it. A stencil made from a paper, plastic, fabric, metal or plastic used as a plate.  An ink applies through the netted screen and ink passes through the screen on the stencil, which attaches with the screen. A tool squeegee pushes the ink onto the stencil, in two to & fro movements. This pushes the ink through the stencils on the paper or fabric or any other material attached, required for printing.

These are the four ancient yet effective printmaking methods still used in various ways.

What Are The Different Types of Printing On A T-Shirt?

T-shirt printing is a worldwide craze and a lucrative business opportunity for the printing services. It offers multiple options to the customers now. Different innovations in printing of T-shirts, has risen the quality bar through ease in printing and access to modern machines. The customers now have many aesthetic designs and customized options in T Shirt Printing.

The different types of printing on T-shirt include traditional Screen-printing, Direct to Garment, Sublimation Printing, and Cad cut vinyl. 

Screen-Printing: This type of T-shirt printing option is traditionally on for centuries, beginning in China since the 3rd century. This began with a silk cloth, hence named ‘Silkscreen Printing’ also.

All you need is a nylon mesh tightened on a wooden frame, and a design stencil in direct contact with the mesh. The negative area, which you do not want to print, applied with a waterproof material. Now color applied on the screen and spread by squeegee in an up & down movement. Squeegee is the tool used to spread ink. The color thus pushed through the mesh on to the stencil then prints attached T-shirt. At one time, only one color is functional in this method, for other colors the process repeated with different screens.

Direct to Garments: This technique is relatively new and launched in 1996 with a DTG printer. Later, a modern version of machine introduced in 2004 with excellence in printing and faster turnaround time. This process cuts down all the tedious time-taking exercises of screen-printing.

Direct to Garment (DTG) works like a paper-printing machine. One needs to create and upload a design on the computer. Then T-shirt printing done, on a command to the printer. In this method, there is a design freedom, which attracts the customers for its uniqueness. The customized design facility contributes to its acceptance in a huge way. Unlike screen-printing, it shows printing smoothness. One feels the softness in printing area in comparison to screen-printing.

Sublimation Printing: This technique of T-shirt printing uses heat to transfer ink on the T-shirt fabric. It is a digital printing technology with full-range of artwork used along with the polyester and polymer-coated substrates. The sublimation process works on heat and pressure technology, when applied to a solid, turns it to a gas, bypassing the liquid phase. The unique sublimation dyes, through liquid gel ink transfers on a paper. The gel ink accumulates at the inkjet papers. This sheet receives design, and then transferred through the heating process to the substrate and T-shirt fabric. This may sound complex but the machine performs it all and offers excellent T-Shirt Printing.

CAD-CUT VINYL- This T-shirt printing type involves a ‘state of the art’ computerized machine that cuts a vinyl paper into the design shape. This machine with the help of a paper, prints design on the T-shirt. It has an ease of design location, it can print on any area of the t-shirt such as arms, neck, torso, or back. This type of printing offers high-quality outputs for T-shirts.