Printing block
The printing block is the generic term for the high pressure ( letterpress used), reversed image element.
The printing block is cut manually by cutters in wood or metal or is etched manually or by machine ( cliché ). It can be duplicated using stereotype or electroplating . The printing blocks together with the text elements, the fonts or lines of text cut from individual letters in wood or cast in metal, form the printing form . Also linoleic - or rubber or plastic sections can serve as printing blocks.
The surface of the printing block is brought to the same height as the letters, which is done by gluing on a correspondingly high base, such as lead, metal and plastic bars or wood. Clichés are also nailed to wooden supports (see illustration above).
Printing blocks made of wood and linoleum are relatively soft and easy to work with by hand; they are preferred in the artistic field. Only small to medium editions can be printed ("deducted") from them, mostly for print graphics , bibliophile editions or posters. Printing blocks made of steel-coated copper, brass or steel are suitable for embossing.
The first stone printing blocks were made in China around 200 BC. BC (Invention of paper ), wood panel printing used for books from the 7th century onwards .
Printing blocks: electroplated, cliché blocked on wood and cliché
Woodcut shape for textile printing
Historical wooden letters
Individual evidence
- ↑ Peter Wulf Hartmann : Form cutter . In: The large art dictionary by PW Hartmann . Stiepan, Leobersdorf 1996.