Two courses on print identification

Organised in cooperation with IADA
(International Association of Book and Paper Conservators)

Identification of Photomechanical Prints

Lecturer:  Hildegard Homburger
Language:  English
Participants:  8
Location:  10555 Berlin, Germany
Dates:  April 12-13, 2018

Registration:  hombu@freenet.de , www.hildegard-homburger.de
Fee:  330  €   (285  € for IADA members)

Content

Within the total number of photomechanical prints, artistic works represent only a small part.

With the introduction of photography in the 19th century, printers no longer had to transfer the image manually onto the printing surface, but were offered the possibility to transfer the image by sensitizing the printing surface and exposing it to light, through a negative or positive depending on the printing technique.

With computer technology, negative or positive film is often no longer necessary. The image is transformed into dots by the computer and the image is transferred to the printing surface by light exposure in the machine.

Since their invention, photomechanical printing techniques have continued to develop further. There are many similar variations of the same technique, each named differently by its inventor. This can be very confusing in the process of identification.

In this seminar the most important photomechanical techniques of relief, intaglio, planographic, screen and digital prints will be presented.

The different techniques (artistic and reproduction) will be examined by studying original prints under magnification. Two participants will share a stereomicroscope. The distinctive characteristics of each technique will be worked out through close looking at the original prints, as exercises in identification.

The two-day course provides an opportunity to look at a great number and variety of original prints under magnification and to develop skills in the identification of their techniques. There will also be the opportunity to compare photomechanical with manual prints.

Identification of Prints

Lecturer: Hildegard Homburger
Language: English
Participants: 8
Location: 10555 Berlin, Germany
Dates: October 18-19, 2018

Registration: hombu@freenet.de , www.hildegard-homburger.de
Fee: 330 €   (285 € for IADA members)

Content

The artistic and reproduction printing techniques undergo a constant development. Modern technology allows a great variety of relief, intaglio, lithography, screen and digital print. Therefore the artistic print is no longer reduced to the classical technique, but artists are using the modern technologies. By identifying prints we are confronted with industrial and photomechanical techniques.

In the course the classical artistic techniques will be presented as well as the industrial and photomechanical techniques in their historical context and technical procedures. Each technique and its variations will be explained with slide lectures.

In the practical sessions original samples of the different techniques will be examined under magnification. Several stereomicroscopes will be provided. Looking at the original prints the distinctive characteristics of each technique will be worked out and the identification exercised.

The two days provide an opportunity to look at a great number and variety of original prints under magnification and to exercise the identification of their techniques.