kivipainatus

Kivipainatus, also known as stone printing, is a lithographic printing technique where images are transferred to paper from a prepared stone surface. Historically, it was a significant method for creating high-quality prints, particularly for artistic reproductions and detailed illustrations. The process involves drawing an image directly onto a smooth, porous limestone slab using a greasy crayon or ink. Once the drawing is complete, the stone is treated with a chemical solution, typically a mixture of gum arabic and nitric acid. This treatment fixes the greasy image to the stone and etches the non-image areas, making them receptive to water.

During the printing process, the stone is dampened with water, which adheres to the non-image areas but is repelled by the greasy image. Ink is then rolled onto the stone; it adheres only to the greasy image areas. Paper is placed on the inked stone, and pressure is applied, transferring the ink from the stone to the paper, thus creating the print. Kivipainatus allowed for a wide range of tonal gradations and fine detail, making it a preferred method for artists and publishers for many years. While modern printing technologies have largely superseded it, kivipainatus remains an important historical printing technique and is still practiced by some artists and specialized printmakers today. The term itself is Finnish, referring to the stone used in the lithographic process.