What is a lithographic stone?
Lithographic limestone is hard limestone that is sufficiently fine-grained, homogeneous and defect free to be used for lithography. Geologists use the term lithographic texture to refer to a grain size under 1/250 mm.
What are litho stones made of?
In the early days of lithography, a smooth piece of limestone was used (hence the name “lithography”: “lithos” (λιθος) is the ancient Greek word for stone). After the oil-based image was put on the surface, a solution of gum arabic in water was applied, the gum sticking only to the non-oily surface.
Where do lithographic stones come from?
It is now a technique used mainly by artists to create fine art prints. Lithographic stones are made from limestone, and are actually no longer available from source, so have to be bought second-hand. The stone surface is ground down to a fine grain using different grades of grit, and a bit of elbow grease.
How many times can you use a lithographic stone?
If inked properly, the stone is good for 100 or 200 prints.
Are litho stones reusable?
Stones are reused, so the first step is to grind the stone to remove the previous image and then polish the stone to prepare it for the artist.
What does a lithograph look like?
A common way to tell if a print is a hand lithograph or an offset lithograph is to look at the print under magnification. Marks from a hand lithograph will show a random dot pattern created by the tooth of the surface drawn on. Inks may lay directly on top of others and it will have a very rich look.
What are the types of lithography?
Types of lithography :
- Electron beam lithography.
- Ion beam lithography.
- Ion track lithography.
- x-ray lithography.
- Nanoimprint lithography.
- Extreme ultraviolet lithography.
What year was the lithograph created?
Lithography was invented around 1796 in Germany by an otherwise unknown Bavarian playwright, Alois Senefelder, who accidentally discovered that he could duplicate his scripts by writing them in greasy crayon on slabs of limestone and then printing them with rolled-on ink.