Definition

1. Noun:
   • A method of printing: "planographic printing" is a printing process where the image areas and non-image areas are on the same flat plane of the printing plate. The process relies on the chemical principle that oil-based ink and water repel each other. The image areas are treated to be ink-receptive (hydrophobic), while the non-image areas are treated to be water-receptive (hydrophilic) and thus ink-repellent.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Lithography is the most common form of planographic printing.
  • The artist chose planographic printing for its ability to produce subtle tonal variations.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In professional printing, "planographic printing" is often discussed in contrast to relief printing (like letterpress) and intaglio printing (like engraving), as it involves no physical etching or raising of the plate surface.
  • The textbook explained the differences between intaglio, relief, and planographic printing processes.

Variants and Related Words

• Planography (n): Another term for the planographic printing process.
  • Planography revolutionized commercial printing in the 19th century.
• Lithography (n): A specific and primary type of planographic printing using a stone or metal plate.
  • Old maps were often produced using lithography.
• Offset Lithography (n): A modern, indirect planographic technique where the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface.
  • Most books and newspapers are printed using offset lithography.

Synonyms

• Surface printing: A general term sometimes used interchangeably, though it can be less precise.
• Chemical printing: Refers to the chemical basis of the image/non-image separation.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Printing plate: The flat surface used in planographic printing.
• Ink-receptive: Describes the property of the image areas on the plate.
• Ink-repellent (hydrophilic): Describes the property of the non-image areas on the plate.

Noun

1. the process of printing from a surface on which the printing areas are not raised but are ink-receptive (as opposed to ink repellent)