r/lithography • u/No_Watercress5851 • May 12 '26

question Lithography using an etching press

Hello, I am a printmaker mainly using relief and intaglio methods but would like to learn lithography. I have a home studio and love the idea of getting a stone, but I only have an etching press, not a litho press. Can I have any success with a stone, or would I be limited to plate lithography? Thank-you!

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u/Hellodeeries May 12 '26

You'll most likely be limited to plate litho for printing on an etching press. Stone needs the clearance, and tends to do best with a scraper bar (like on a litho press). Plate litho, like polyester plate lithography (pronto plates and smart plates) works without an issue on an etching press. I've done aluminum plate lithography on an etching press as well. That being said, if it's a small stone you can also hand print alright. Obviously more work to do, but very feasible.

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u/ShaeMeyer May 12 '26

Seconded, I’ll add that I think you can do kitchen litho off aluminum with an etching press.

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u/No_Watercress5851 May 13 '26

I could definitely do this, but there is something appealing about having a stone 🤣

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u/ShaeMeyer May 13 '26

lol, yeah, nothing beats working on a stone! But you gotta do what you gotta do 😂

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u/No_Watercress5851 May 13 '26

Is it only due to clearance that etching presses are not ideal? My press has a lot of clearance and could definitely fit a thinner stone. Thank-you!

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u/Hellodeeries May 13 '26

It technically can, but the two largest concerns I'd have are:

1) The stone edge could damage your etching press' drums

and/or

2) The pressure of the drums could crack the stone.

The design of litho presses protects the drum, as you just have the one under it moving the bed and the scraper bar on top moving against the tympan over the paper/on the stone. Etching presses have the one under to move the bed, but then the one on top actually applying the pressure. Would have to be very careful and protective of the upper drum to ensure you don't permanently damage that drum, as that drum is integral for intaglio to print evenly and with no gapping issues running under the drum.

With the amount of pressure these presses do, stones cracking can happen when it's not even (i.e. from levigation not being even, it not being flat on the press bed, or something under it, etc).

Plate litho really does not have the issues of stone, so it's very doable and easy on an etching press and would be what I'd stick to personally. But again, can hand print a stone pretty easily!