History of Text Technologies

Lithography is a printmaking technique in which a design is drawn onto a flat stone or metal plate using an oil-based substance. Traditionally, this meant drawing with oil, fat, or wax. The stone would then be brushed with a mild acid solution and gum arabic, making the parts of the plate’s surface not covered in oil hydrophilic. The stone was then moistened, and oil-based ink applied, which would now adhere only to the original drawing lines. The plate was then ready to print an image. The process has been refined in the modern day to use additional chemicals and add in additional steps to produce cleaner, finer prints.