Definition

Noun: 1. A method of printing: Planography is a printing process where the image area and the non-image area are on the same flat plane of the printing plate. The process relies on the chemical principle that oil (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 planography.
  • The artist chose planography for the reproduction because it allowed for subtle tonal variations.
  • Modern offset printing is a commercial application of the planography principle.

Advanced Usage

• Technical Context: In professional printing, "planography" is often discussed in contrast to relief printing (like letterpress) and intaglio printing (like engraving), as it represents the third major class of printing processes.
  • The exhibit showcased the three main historical printing techniques: relief, intaglio, and planography.

Variants and Related Words

• Lithography (n): A specific and primary type of planography that uses a stone or metal plate. Often used synonymously with planography in art contexts.
  • The book contained several original lithographs, beautiful examples of planography.
• Offset Lithography / Offset Printing (n): A commercial printing method where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface. This is the dominant form of planography today.
• Photolithography (n): A planographic process used in microchip manufacturing, where light is used to transfer a geometric pattern from a photomask to a light-sensitive chemical on the substrate.

Synonyms

• Flatbed printing: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the flat surface of the printing plate.
• Surface printing: Another term highlighting that the image is on the surface plane, not raised or recessed.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Hydrophilic (adj): Water-attracting; describes the non-image areas of a planographic plate.
• Hydrophobic (adj): Water-repelling; describes the ink-receptive image areas of a planographic plate.
• Chemical printing: A term sometimes used to describe planography, as it depends on chemical antagonism rather than physical plate topography.

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)