2. Hand:
Techniques
Method Advantages Disadvantages Examples
(pictures)
Etching a method of making prints from
a metal plate, usually copper, into which
the design has been incised by acid. The
copperplate is first coated with an acid-
resistant substance ,which the design is
drawn with a sharp tool. The plate is
then exposed to nitric acid or dutch
mordant, which eats away those areas
of the plate unprotected by the ground,
forming a pattern of recessed lines.
• Many circuits can
be etched at once
• Circuits can be
very compact -
the etched tracks
replace wires and
leads.
• If the circuit needs to be
updated then it will need
to be re-designed and re-
etched from scratch
• Uses some nasty
chemicals that can be
harmful.
Linocut Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant
of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum is
used for the relief surface. A design is cut
into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife
with the raised areas representing a reversal
of the parts to show printed. The linoleum
sheet is inked with a roller and then
impressed onto paper or fabric. The actual
printing can be done by hand or with a press.
• Sturdy
• Easy for simple
designs
• Mistakes are
irreversible
• Time consuming
• Limited colour
application
• Long time to dry
Screen print Mesh is stapled to a wooden or metal frame.
Masking tape stuck around underside of the
screen
Stencil design cut.
Stencil placed under frame but above paper.
Line of ink placed at one end of screen.
Use squeegee to draw ink across screen,
pressing firmly
Carefully lift screen.
Evaluate and repeat.
• Economical
• Quicker process
• Larger designs
• Wide range of
utility
• Sturdy and tough
• Takes a long time-
particularly high quality
prints.
• It is financially impractical
for the production of a
single item particularly for
colour printing advertising
applications.
Woodcut It’s a relief printing artistic technique in
printmaking in which an image is carved
into the surface of a block of wood, with
the printing parts remaining level with
the surface while the non-printing parts
are removed. The areas to show ‘white’
are cut away with a knife or chisel,
leaving the characters or image to show
in ‘black’ at the original surface level.
• Cheaper to buy
• Cheap materials
• Robust quality
• Time consuming
Lithography A printing plate with a relief image is
dampened with water and then coated
with ink. The ink only sticks to the parts
of the plate that are not wet with water.
The printing plate is fixed to a roller and
the image is transferred onto paper fed
• It’s fast
• Cheap
• The images
produced are
clear and
• Cant produce high
quality prints
• Materials are
complex to use
3. Mechanical:
Technique Method Advantages Disadvantages Example
(picture)
Letterpress Letterpress is a form of
relief printing. It can be
used to create both type
and illustrations. It is
used for small printing
jobs such as business
cards and stationery.
• Straight forward
process
• Sharp images
• Any type of
paper can be
used.
• Time consuming
• The range of
fonts and styles
are limited
• Colour
disadvantage
Gravure In gravure printing, the image
is made up of small holes
sunk in the surface of the
printing plate. The holes are
filled with ink and any excess
is removed. Paper comes into
contact with the ink in the
holes when it is pressed
against the plate. They are
used for magazines, mail-
order catalogues, packaging
and printing onto fabric.
• Photographic
Quality
• Bright colours
• Best appearance
• High cost
• Time needed to
engrave
Screen process Is a print made by
pushing ink through a
screen.
• Can be used on
glass, plastics
and textured
surfaces
• Durability
• images can be
scaled upwards
• Limited colour
mixing
• Multi step process
4. Digital:
Technique Method Advantages Disadvantages Examples
(pictures)
photocopying Photocopiers can enlarge
and reduce images, and
process paper and card.
They can also be used
for back-to-back copying
and to collate multiple
copies.
• They make large
amounts of copies
• they are easy to
understand on how
to use
• Speed
• cost
• Its heavy and it
takes up a lot of
space.
• Lack of reliability
Laser printing
Laser printing is an
electrostatic digital
printing process that rapidly
produces high quality text
and graphics by passing
a laser beam over a
charged drum to define a
differentially charged
image. The drum then
selectively collects charged
toner and transfers the
image to paper, which is
then heated to permanently
fix the image.
• Colour printing is
possible
• Print quality
• Noiseless
• Cost of ink
• When printed
they are wet so
need to dry
• Printing is slow
Inkjet Inkjet printing is a type
of computer printing that
creates a digital
image by propelling
droplets of ink onto
paper, plastic, or other
substrates.
• Colour is
perfect
• faster
• Very expensive
Desktop
publishing
is the creation of
documents using page
layout skills on a personal
computer. Desktop
publishing software can
generate layouts and
• Frame based
• Easy to use
• Multiple available
templates
• Slow installation
• Not very precise
layouts
