Printing Technique: Lithography

Lithographs are created by Chihuly in different ways, including drawing with tusche (greasy ink) onto metal plates or by painting on sheets of mylar (a polyester film). One plate is needed for each color desired in the final artwork. For example, a six-color lithograph requires that Chihuly make six different drawings on six different plates, After further preparation of the plates by the master printmaker, the plates are inked and pulled over high-quality archival paper, with one pass required for each plate used. Thus, a six-color lithograph is run through the press six separate times.

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