Fametszet

Fametszet is a Hungarian term that can refer to two distinct concepts: the woodcut printing technique and the transverse section of wood. It is formed from fa, meaning wood or tree, and metszet, meaning cut or section. In standard usage, these senses are typically written as fa metszet (two words), but the combined form fametszet may appear in some dictionaries or nonstandard texts.

In the graphic arts sense, fametszet refers to a woodcut, a relief printing method in which a design is carved into a wooden block. The non-carved areas remain raised and are inked, then pressed onto paper to produce prints. Woodcuts have a long history, with extensive use in Europe from the 15th century onward for image reproduction and book illustration. The technique is valued for its bold lines and strong contrast. Common materials include hard woods such as beech, boxwood, or cherry, and tools like knives and gouges are used to shape the block.

In the forestry and botanical sense, fametszet can denote a cross-section of wood cut perpendicular to the trunk or branch axis. Such cross-sections reveal growth rings and wood structure, making them useful in dendrochronology, age estimation, and climate history studies. Preparing a wood cross-section typically involves cutting, planing, and sometimes polishing to make the ring pattern clearly visible. The information obtained from wood cross-sections informs timber quality assessments, growth history, and silvicultural decisions.

Note that the two meanings are differentiated in standard Hungarian orthography by spacing (fa metszet), while fametszet as a single word may appear in some texts.