Art Explained : Offset (Lithography) Prints

Offset printing (lithography)

Offset printing is a special method of printing used only when creating litographs. Lithography is a printing process that uses a greasy substance to transfer an image onto a new surface (typically paper) from an engraved flat stone or metal plate. 

An offset print refers to using an ‘intermediate surface’ (often a rubber-made cylinder - pictured below) between the original plate (the ‘main surface) and then using this to print onto the ‘final surface’ (eg. paper, wood, fabric) that the image is printed onto. So in short, when you are buying an offset print, you are buying a print of a print and not a print of a plate. How and why? - you may wonder. Let’s find out! 

Using this ‘intermediate surface’ rather than the original plate serves two purposes: it protects the original plate and reverses the original image. Transferring the engraved design from the original plate onto the rubber cylinder and using this surface to print from, it avoids overuse of the original plate where the design is engraved, preventing it from perishing or becoming damaged in the printing process. 

Furthermore, when printing directly from the original plate, the image printed on the paper will be the reverse of what's on the plate. This will then not be the same way round as the original artwork that is being copied,because the image is flipped- think of it like a mirror... If your reflection in the mirror became static and you sat side-by-side with your reflection, you would notice that your reflection is reversed. So if for example, you have a ring on your right hand, in the mirror, it would then appear on the left hand. That’s what happens when printing directly from a plate. With the ‘offset printing’ technique this issue of reversing the image doesn’t happen because the intermediate surface has already picked up the reverse image from the original plate, so when it comes to print from that intermediate surface, the final image printed will already be the same way round as the original artwork. In short, offset printing simplifies the printing process.

Are ‘Offset prints’ less valuable than a conventional ‘Fine Art Print’ because it's not from the original plate? Yes and no. Yes on the one hand, because the final print has had less contact with the original image itself, (and so ultimately less contact with the artist); but also, no, not necessarily, because we need to remember that the scarcity of the edition can often override these concerns, and allow it to still retain good value. But you’ll need to bear all these considerations in mind carefully and be very selective if you want to find lithographs with good investment potential to add to your collection.