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 Lithography is a method of printing from stone, although other materials can be used. As opposed to wood-cuts, where the design appears „in relief“, or line engraving, where it is cut into the surface – „intaglio“ – in lithography the design is simply drawn on a flat surface of a special limestone.
The process is based on the antipathy of water and grease. The design is drawn on the clear stone with a greasy ink or crayon, which is „fixed“ by chemical means. The stone is then moistened, the water being absorbed by the stone but repelled by the greasing in of the design: finally ink, which adheres only to the drawing, is rolled on and subsequently paper is applied under pressure and the print obtained. By the use of separate stones for different colours, multi-coloured prints can be obtained.
The process was not invented until about 1796 by Alois Senefelder in Munich, Germany.
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Deutsche Version
Graphic techniques