SUMMARY －23－

Polymer Printmaking: Relief, Intaglio and Lithograph Methods

MUSASHI Atsuhiko

Today, the issue of non-toxic printmaking is the focus of many workshops and symposia worldwide. Printmakers are showing a great deal of interest in photosensitive polymer plates which are processed using ultraviolet light and water, and without ferrous chloride or nitric acid as etching plates are. Though I have named the process, the plate material was invented as a relief type commer- cial printing product by companies such as Toyobo and Toray nearly thirty years ago. Over the last decade several printmakers throughout the world, including myself have been motivated to convert this relief plate to intaglio using our own methods. One Finnish photographer, for exam- ple, succeeded in making intaglio photogravure using photopolymer plates more than twenty years ago. In this paper, I would like to introduce three types of polymer printmaking. The relief and intaglio technique using nylon based photosensitive plate, and polymer lithography using a silicon based photosensitive plate. These printmaking techniques, making use of the 20th century inven- tion, are based on recent concepts of non-toxic printmaking with the least usage of chemical materials. Printmaking is an art expressive medium that changes its nature alongside the technology of its time. Nowadays, when computer graphics are invading the printmaking field, it seems that dig- ital could overtake the other processes. However not every process can be replaced. As long as paper exists, printmaking will survive and the approach of printmakers will be appreciated as a valid and efficient form of expression. Printmaking has always been and always will be an insepa- rable of art and education. －24－ SUMMARY

(1) Introduction (2) Non-toxic Printmaking Technique (3) History of Polymer Printmaking (4) Print Technology and Printmaking (5) Photosensitive Polymer Printmaking A. Polymer Relief Printmaking B. Polymer Intaglio Printmaking C. Polymer Lithograph C-1. Silicon Drypoint (6) Conclusion