Collotype Printing
Collotype printing is a planographic printing technique. It produces images of high quality because no halftone screen is needed to break the images into dots. Invented in the 19th century collotype printing is little-known today. The Museum of the Printing Arts Leipzig is one of the last places in Europe showing the steps of this unique printing technique.
Die Druckform für den Lichtdruck ist eine Glasplatte. Die Abbildung befindet sich in einer speziellen Gelatine.
Folie zur Herstellung einer Lichtdruck-Originalgrafik
Detail einer Lichtdruckschnellpresse
Entnahme eines frischen Druckbogens aus der Schnellpresse
Lichtdruck-Originalgrafik „Farbenlehrer“ von Patrick Fauck (Leipzig, 2015)
Collotype printing was formerly the most effective technique for the reproduction of fine art works. Excellent color saturation is the most remarkable feature of collotype. The results are difficult to distinguish from the original. Because of the relatively long time needed for collotype production and the expense of the process, the craft has fallen into oblivion. But in recent years collotype printing is increasingly being rediscovered by artists who are reviving the technique for new forms of experimental expression.