ritplattor

Ritplattor is a term used in Swedish to describe plates that serve as the matrix for image reproduction in printmaking, map engraving, and book illustration. A ritplatta is typically made of metal—most commonly copper or zinc—but can also be steel, wood in relief processes, or modern polymers. The image is created by incising, etching, or otherwise deforming the plate surface; ink is applied and wiped from the surface so that only the incised or recessed lines hold ink. Paper is then pressed onto the plate to transfer the image.

Techniques used with ritplattor include engraving, etching, drypoint, aquatint, and mezzotint. These methods determine line quality and tonal range. In color printing, multiple plates may be used with careful registration to build up different inks in stages.

Historically, ritplattor were central to intaglio printmaking from the early modern period onward. Copper plates were common for reproducing artworks, maps, and illustrated texts. With the rise of lithography, photography, and later digital printing in the 19th and 20th centuries, the dominant role of traditional metal plates diminished, but the technique persisted in artistic practice and archival reproduction.

Preservation of ritplattor requires protection from corrosion and physical damage. Plates are typically stored vertically or sandwiched between protective materials, with appropriate humidity control and, when necessary, anti-corrosive treatments. In contemporary times, many printmakers continue to work with traditional plates as a historical craft or artistic choice, while museums curate and study historical examples for scholarly and educational purposes.