Pildindus

Pildindus refers to the Estonian term for lithography, a planographic printing technique. This method relies on the immiscibility of oil and water, and the principle that oily substances adhere to greasy surfaces while repelling water. In traditional lithography, an image is drawn onto a smooth, flat limestone or metal plate using a greasy crayon or ink. The plate is then treated with a chemical solution, typically gum arabic and an acid, which etches the non-image areas, making them receptive to water.

When the plate is dampened, the water adheres to the treated, non-image areas and is repelled by the greasy drawing. Ink, which is oil-based, is then applied to the plate. The ink adheres to the greasy image areas and is repelled by the damp, non-image areas. Paper is placed on the inked plate, and pressure is applied, transferring the ink from the image to the paper, thus creating a print. Modern lithography, often referred to as offset lithography, uses metal plates and a printing press that transfers the ink from the plate to a rubber blanket, and then to the paper. This method is widely used in commercial printing for books, magazines, and packaging due to its efficiency and ability to produce high-quality images. Pildindus encompasses both the historical stone lithography and its modern offset adaptation.