collagraphy

Collagraphy is a printmaking process in which the printing plate is created by assembling a variety of textured materials onto a rigid backing, such as cardboard or wood. The resulting plate surface can be printed as relief, intaglio, or a combination of both, depending on how ink is applied and wiped.

Construction and materials: An artist builds up the plate by gluing together textured items such as cardboard, fabric, rope, sand, found papers, metal fragments, and other objects. The collage is sealed with varnish or acrylic medium to create a single, stable surface and to control ink uptake. The plate may be further altered with scoring, cutting, or abrasion to introduce additional marks. The method is valued for accessibility and for producing a broad range of tactile textures that are difficult to achieve with traditional printmaking plates.

Inking and printing: For relief collagraphs, ink is rolled onto the raised areas and wiped from the non‑printed parts. For intaglio elements, ink is forced into recessed textures and then wiped, with damp paper pulled through a press to transfer the image. Many artists combine relief and intaglio on a single plate to achieve mixed textures. Printings are typically done on an etching press, and editions are often limited; plates can be reused for additional impressions until the surface degrades.

History and usage: Collagraphy emerged in the mid-20th century as artists explored texture-based image-making beyond traditional intaglio and relief techniques. It gained popularity in educational settings and studios for its flexibility, immediacy, and wide tonal range. Today it remains a versatile technique used by many contemporary printmakers.