Discover the various techniques that have been used to create these different works of art since 1796. Whether they are for making modern or traditional works, the same techniques and craftsmanship are still used today. Moreover, in the workshops, the production teams still use the same methods of engraving and printing and the same colouring stencils.
We invite you to discover the different techniques still used today in the printing workshop –Imagerie d’Épinal. They are at the origin of the fame of this beautiful bicentenary house even if many have specific characteristics.
- Traditional techniques of graphic arts are used to produce series using print techniques on wood, stone or metal materials. They allow their motif to be transcribed on paper, which can then be coloured with stencils in several colours.
- The wood engraving technique consists in making an impression on a wooden board by cutting it with a gouge and a punch. This technique has been replaced by lithography since the 1850s.
- The Lithography technique has replaced wood with polished limestone, which is more resistant and easy to draw on. The detail of the drawing is very precise and gives finesse to a unique feature. The printing of this impression is called "lithographic".
- The Chromolithography technique gives beautiful colours to the printing technique that corresponds to it. It is made with lithographic stones, each corresponding to a colour. It was previously reserved for album covers, to give them a very high quality finish.
- The Linocut technique is one of the latest engraving techniques which is carried out on a linoleum plate. It has the same principle as the wood engraving technique, except that its material is more flexible than wood.
- The Zincography technique makes it possible to engrave something directly on a zinc sheet, making it possible to produce great finesse in engravings.
- The Aquatype technique is a mechanical process which mission is to replace the hand stencil with a mechanical one. It enables several colours to be used in one pass, which increases productivity.
- Stencilling by hand is a colouring technique which makes it possible to put colour on the various parts previously reserved. Using a large round brush called a Pochon the colour is deposited manually in a circular motion, prints have their colours applied one by one.
- The techniques of gilding and illumination allow certain parts of prints to be enhanced with gilding or erasing so as to make them shine.
