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Lithography is a printing and microfabrication technique based on the principle that oil and water do not mix. The term originated in the late 18th century with plans to create flat printing surfaces, originally using limestone. In traditional planographic lithography, an image is drawn with a greasy medium on a smooth stone or metal plate. The surface is moistened with water; the greasy drawing repels the water and attracts oil-based ink, while the non-image areas hold water and resist ink. After inking, paper is pressed onto the plate to transfer the image. Over time, stone was replaced by metal and synthetic surfaces, enabling more consistent production.

Offset lithography, the dominant commercial printing method in the 20th century, uses a three-step transfer: a lithographic plate carries the image, which is inked and first transferred to a rubber blanket, then to the substrate (usually paper). This indirect transfer allows high-quality images and efficient mass production. Modern offset systems often use computer-to-plate technology to streamline setup.

In microfabrication and electronics, a related process called photolithography uses light to pattern a photosensitive resist on a substrate. After exposure through a mask, the resist is developed and then etched or used to guide material deposition. Advances in deep ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet lithography enable increasingly small feature sizes essential for integrated circuits.

Artists also employ lithography to produce original prints, with lithographs representing images created on a prepared surface and transferred to paper. Contemporary practice blends traditional and digital techniques, while environmental and safety considerations influence solvent use, waste management, and process efficiency.