Practical Printmaking

This book presents an overview of the core printmaking areas: intaglio, lithography, collagraph, monoprinting, relief printing and screenprinting. There are also sections on Health & Safety, Workshop and Studio Space, and Displaying and Storing Prints, as well as a comprehensive glossary and list of suppliers. Separate chapters covering digital printmaking and the use of photography in printmaking ensure that the book is up to date with contemporary practice. Each chapter rounds off with a small gallery section showcasing the work of contemporary printmakers working with the relevant techniques. In each instance, the cheapest and easiest methods for each technique is explained and wherever possible the author covers methods for making prints at home, without the need for expensive equipment and presses. The whole book is filled with step-by-step sequences and clear instructions. The result is an excellent guide for the beginner and useful reference for the intermediate printmaker on all the printmaking techniques and how to use them.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements 6 Introduction 7 1 Equipment, Tools, Materials 9 Health and safety 18 2 Drypoint 19 Drypoint on cardboard 20 Drypoint on metal 22 Drypoint on plastic 26 3 Etching 27 Hard-ground etching 27 Inking a colour etching from a single plate 36 Soft-ground etching 39 4 Flexograph - photopolymer gravure 43 5 Using Digital Photographs for Etching 52 6 Collagraph 57 7 Digital Printmaking 64 8 Stone Lithography 72 9 Photoplate Lithography 86 10 Screenprinting 96 11 Relief Printing 109 Woodcut 120 12 Relief Printing with Stamps and Blocks 124 13 Monoprinting 127 14 Cards and Books 136 15 Working in the Landscape 143 16 Displaying and Storing Prints 148 Conclusion 152 Suppliers 154 Glossary 156 Index 159

About the Author :
Colin Gale is a well-known, highly respected name in the printmaking field. He is Chair of the Education Committee for the Royal Watercolour Society and the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. He founded and manages Artichoke Print Workshop in London, and also tutors on the National Print Exhibition Printmaking Course. He is the author of PH: Etching and Photopolymer Intaglio Techniques (A&C Black, 2006), and was co-author of The Instant Printmaker (Collins and Brown, 2003).

Review :
'The book is well and copiously illustrated, so it's hard to see how it would disappoint even the most experienced printmaker' Artbookreview.net (13/02/09) 'The clarity of instruction and lavish illustrations make this book a great starting point and inspirational for anyone intrigued to discover the many beautiful qualities of printmaking. It is also a very useful teaching aid and should be in every school art department.' Printmaking Today (Autumn 2009)