grafiki

Grafiki is the Polish term for graphics or graphic arts. It covers a range of visual works produced by graphic techniques as well as the broader field of visual communication that uses line, shape, color, and composition. In traditional sense, grafiki referred to prints created by printmaking processes and to drawing and illustration that precede or accompany textual content. Core methods include woodcut and linocut, engraving and etching (including copperplate), mezzotint, aquatint, lithography, and serigraphy (screen printing). These techniques enable artists to reproduce images or to exploit texture and tonal variation.

Historically, graphic arts played a central role in book illustration, posters, and commercial graphics. The 19th and early 20th centuries saw graphic design emerge as a distinct discipline that integrates imagery with typography and layout for communication. The late 20th century brought computer graphics to prominence; grafika komputerowa encompasses digital illustration, vector art, raster images, 3D rendering, and multimedia.

Today grafiki encompasses both traditional printmaking and digital forms. Applications range from fine art prints and editorial illustration to branding, packaging, web and user interface graphics, and information design. The field remains active in Poland and worldwide, with artists and designers often blending classic techniques with digital workflows. Editions, signatures, and limited runs are traditional aspects of print-based grafiki, while digital works emphasize iteration and distribution.