Above: Carrie Kaser. Test Plate (Hanco Process Black ink). 2020
In the mid 1990’s Boise State University printmaking professor, George Roberts, was looking for a non-toxic alternative to traditional stone lithography.
Roberts discovered that large, thin polyester sheets were used for the offset printing of inexpensive magazines and newspapers in central Asia. After receiving a research grant, Roberts developed a similar plate that could be incorporated into the fine art printmaking studio using few or no toxic chemicals-- a breakthrough for lithography printmaking. Polyester plate lithography has since become a fundamental printmaking technique in many fine art print studios, although it started as a low cost form of commercial offset lithography. Also known as Pronto Plate Lithography, it is capable of reproducing the full spectrum of lithographic marks, including hand drawn brush strokes, ink wash, texture, crayon and pencil marks, and is equally well suited for digital imaging. Plates can be also imaged directly with a laser printer or a photocopier.
Roberts discovered that large, thin polyester sheets were used for the offset printing of inexpensive magazines and newspapers in central Asia. After receiving a research grant, Roberts developed a similar plate that could be incorporated into the fine art printmaking studio using few or no toxic chemicals-- a breakthrough for lithography printmaking. Polyester plate lithography has since become a fundamental printmaking technique in many fine art print studios, although it started as a low cost form of commercial offset lithography. Also known as Pronto Plate Lithography, it is capable of reproducing the full spectrum of lithographic marks, including hand drawn brush strokes, ink wash, texture, crayon and pencil marks, and is equally well suited for digital imaging. Plates can be also imaged directly with a laser printer or a photocopier.