Collography

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This article is about the printmaking process called collography. For information about calligraphy, see calligraphy.

Collography (also spelt collagraphy) is a printmaking process in which materials are applied to a rigid substrate (such as cardboard or wood). The plate can be Intaglio inked, inked with a roller or paintbrush or a combination of all three. The Ink or pigment is applied to the resulting collage, and the board is printed onto paper or another material. Substances such as carborundum, acrylic texture mediums, sandpapers, string, cut card, leaves and grasses can all be used in creating the collograph plate. Leaves are used for the pigment, to do so they are rubbed onto the surface. Different tonal effects and vibrant colours can be achieved because of the depth of relief and consequent shadow effects and the differential inking that results from the highly textured surface. The resultant print is termed a collograph. The term "collography" is derived from the Greek words collo, meaning glue and graph, meaning the activity of drawing. Collography is a very open printmaking method. Ink may be applied to the upper surfaces of the plate with a brayer for a relief print, or ink may be applied to the entire board and then removed from the upper surfaces but remaining in the spaces between objects, resulting in an intaglio print. A combination of both intaglio and relief methods may also be employed. A printing press may or may not be used.