Galvanictyyppisiä

Galvanictyyppisiä refers to a category of printing plates or printing processes that involve galvanic deposition, commonly known as electroplating. This technique is utilized in the creation of printing surfaces where a metallic layer is deposited onto a base material through an electrolytic process. The term originates from "galvanic," referencing galvanic cells or electrochemistry, and "tyyppisiä," meaning types or kinds, thus signifying types of printing involving galvanic processes.

Historically and in contemporary applications, galvanictyyppisiä methods are crucial for producing durable and high-resolution printing plates. For example, in photogravure printing, copper is electroplated onto a steel cylinder. This copper layer is then etched to create the image-carrying surface. Similarly, in some forms of offset printing, the printing plates can be electroplated with metals like copper or nickel to enhance their wear resistance and ink-holding capabilities. The precision achievable with galvanic deposition allows for the faithful reproduction of fine details and tonal gradations, making it a valuable technique in high-quality printing. The process involves immersing the object to be plated into an electrolyte solution containing ions of the plating metal, and then passing an electric current through the solution, causing the metal ions to deposit onto the object.