Prints, lithos,... whats the difference?

Hi! Would someone please be kind enough to explain the difference between Prints, lithographs, Giclée? I would be most appreciative! Is there a simple way to tell?

 

"Print" is an overarching term that encompasses the others. Besides the excellent thread that @i need help mentioned, you can get some very detailed information on various types of prints at the Graphics Atlas website: http://www.graphicsatlas.org/

Click on Identification to see a list of all sorts of prints, each one explained in detail. You can also click on Compare if you want to compare the features of two types of prints. From your post I think you are most interested in the prints that are not photographic. So the types of prints under categories of Pre-photographic, Photomechanical, and Digital would probably be of most interest.

 

I haven’t read that pin (but will) but in a nutshell all the above reproductive processes are all “prints”. A litho is done off a stone or plate with a resist so that ink only goes where wanted. When a litho is done on a stone, you can see the textural differences.

A giclee is done on an inkjet printer but they are frequently topped with an acrylic gel that’s applied with a brush. When done on canvas they can be foolers to a novice collector as they can look like paintings.

A silkscreen (which is no longer done with silk so they’re called screen prints or serigraphs) is done with each color of ink being pushed through a separate screen, again with a resist to allow the ink to be placed where wanted. When a screen print is “off register” you can see an overlap of color as each color is put down with a separate screen so that’s a sure tell right away. Andy Warhol’s Marilyn prints are a great example of off register screen printing. Check out the cross over color areas.

These are a few differences that may help you but respectfully, if you don’t know the differences between the processes you shouldn’t try and make a call and best to ask here or ask others. I frequently go to others for help when I’m not sure and I definitely have some knowledge as both a minor print collector and an active art docent with an art history degree although admittedly, print making was pretty much ignored when I was in school during the Dark Ages.

 

Bamber Gascoigne: How to Identify Prints.
Thames & Hudson, 2nd ed. 2004.
ISBN 9780500284803

 

THANKS!!

 

You can also check this useful ebook that the author(David Rudd) has uploaded freely in his website (http://www.cycleback.com/)

https://cycleback.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/cycleback_authenticating_prints.pdf

TTA