Relief printing, typically used for printing text, is a process in which the raised surfaces of a block or plate are inked and then pressed onto a flat surface to create an impression. The spelling of "relief" is [rəˈliːf] in IPA transcription, with stress on the second syllable. The "rel-" beginning is pronounced as the short "u" sound in "hut", while the "-ief" ending is pronounced similarly to "leaf". The word emphasizes the release of pressure, which relates to how the ink transfers onto the paper during the printing process.
Relief printing is a technique used in printmaking where areas of a printing surface are raised or carved away, leaving the intended image or design to be inked and transferred onto a chosen medium. It is a form of intaglio printing that dates back to ancient times, with the earliest-known examples found in Asia and Egypt.
To create a relief print, the artist carves away the negative spaces of the design into a material, typically wood or linoleum. The raised surface that remains forms the printing surface. Ink is then applied to this surface with a roller or brayer, ensuring that it covers only the raised areas and not the carved-away spaces.
Next, a piece of paper is carefully pressed onto the inked surface, and pressure is applied to transfer the image onto the paper. The print is then carefully lifted off the surface, revealing the final relief image.
Relief printing allows for multiple reproductions of the same image, making it an ideal method for creating editions of prints. It is often used in creating illustrations, posters, bookplates, and decorative artwork. The process offers a unique texture and visual effect due to the qualities of the ink sitting on top of the raised surface.
Famous relief printing techniques include woodcut and linocut, with notable artists such as Albrecht Dürer and Pablo Picasso employing these methods to create masterful prints. Today, relief printing continues to be a popular and versatile medium for artists and printmakers.
The etymology of the word "relief printing" traces back to the Latin origins of two key terms: "relevare" and "prehendere".
1. "Relief" comes from the Latin word "relevare", which means "to raise" or "to lift up". It is derived from the combination of "re-" (meaning "again" or "back") and "levare" (meaning "to lift" or "to lighten").
2. "Printing" originates from the Latin term "prehendere", which means "to seize" or "to grasp". It evolved into "printria" (Old French) and then "prentynge" (Middle English) before getting transformed into "printing" in its current form.