Artworks Custom Framing

FRAMING TERMS

ACID FREE (MATTING) -Technically, material having a pH of 7 or higher are considered to be acid-free. Acids are evil as far as framers are concerned. Cardboard, for instance has a very high acid content, making it unsuitable for conservation framing, or any framing really. Acids cause papers to become stained and brittle over time. Some regular matboards claim to have acid-free core and backing paper. Making it completely free of acid, right? Well, no. While this is better than nothing, the boards still contain lignin which down the road results in a more acidic board. These regular boards are buffered with calcium carbonate to neutralize the existing acids, but this buffer will be overwhelmed as time goes on. Also keep in mind that the surface paper is not acid-free and outgasses pollutants, and dyes are used for coloring the surface which fade quickly compared to pigments. Conservation-grade boards are completely acid-free in the commonly thought of sense of the word.
ACID MIGRATION - Transfer of an acid from an acidic material to a less acidic or pH neutral material, most often from one with which it is in contact. Since acid can cause certain material such as paper, and the mats, mounts, etc. with which they are framed, to discolor and to deteriorate, acid migration is one of the factors to be considered in planning the storage of various artifacts, especially textiles and works on paper.
ACRYLIC PAINT - Water-soluble paint made with pigments and synthetic resin; used as a fast-drying alternative to oil paint. Acrylic colors are water soluble when wet, but dry to an insoluble film and adhere to most surfaces. Colors are bright, dry quickly and are flexible. Acrylic paint is often used to mimic the look of oil paint.
AESTHETIC VALUE - The value or worth an object or event has due to its capacity to evoke pleasure.
AIR BRUSH - Method of spraying dyes or paints onto a surface using a precision brush device driven by an air compressor or an instrument, powered by compressed air, used to spray paint with delicate control and precision. Paint (usually a fine water color) is held in a small cup attached to the side of the pen-like instrument. Paint is drawn through the "brush" by the Venturi effect. The result is characterized by unbroken tonal gradations and a smooth even texture.
ANTIQUE – Objects created at an earlier time, typically over 100 years old.
APPRAISAL – Evaluation of the monetary worth of an object. Generally, there is a gaurantee of value and a percentage of that value is assessed to the customer.
ANIMATION CEL - Clear plastic sheet onto which a drawing is copied, either by hand-inking or by a xerographic copier process. Colored paints are applied to the reverse side. One or more cels may be placed over a painted background, which serves as a setting for the action. In animated movies and cartoons, twenty-four cels are required for each second of screen time. Cel is an abbreviation for Celluloid (trademark).
APPLIQUÉ - design made by stitching pieces of colored fabric onto a larger piece of cloth. Appliqué is used for wall hangings and as decoration on clothing, quilts and pillows.
ARCHIVAL (QUALITY) - Designation for paper or inks of high permanence and durability. A non-technical term used to denote material that will last over long periods (several hundred years) with minimal deterioration because of its chemical stability and physical durability. Broadly used to describe materials that have the least harmful effects on the art being framed or stored and thus preserving such pieces for the longest period of time.
ARCHIVAL (QUALITY) - Designation for paper or inks of high permanence and durability. A non-technical term used to denote material that will last over long periods (several hundred years) with minimal deterioration because of its chemical stability and physical durability. Broadly used to describe materials that have the least harmful effects on the art being framed or stored and thus preserving such pieces for the longest period of time. As a matter of convention, the term archival with regard to framing is generally considered synonymous with conservation or preservation framing. If something is done employing archival methods, it's done in such a way that the art piece is preserved in the best possible manner, or at least in a manner appropriate for an archive—a storage facility for items meant to be preserved. One could argue that there is no such thing as archival framing as a true archive would not put something on display, but store it away in a safe container away from potentially damaging light.
ART DECO - Art movement of the 1920s and 30s where artists used geometric shapes, intense colors and often distortion to create mostly decorative art. It borrowed elements from French, African, Aztec, Chinese, and Egyptian cultures.
ART DECO - Art movement of the 1920s and 30s where artists used geometric shapes, intense colors and often distortion to create mostly decorative art. It borrowed elements from French, African, Aztec, Chinese, and Egyptian cultures.
ARTIST'S PROOF (A/P) - the first impressions printed (pulled) for the artist's approval so that the artist may make adjustments before the edition is printed. These are in addition to the standard edition and are often kept by the artist. These prints are also used to extend the edition beyond the original numbered run. Artist Proof works are marked AP either with or without a number that denotes how many were run .Artist's Proof Abbreviated "A. P." A portion of the total number of impressions or pieces in a limited edition are usually designated "A. P." Generally, the entire edition is pulled (printed) one color at a time, and only after the entire edition has been pulled, the artist will then sign and number the pieces. Consequently, artist's proofs are no different than any other impressions within the edition. Often, there is a false belief that pieces designated as artist's proofs are it worth" more or are more "valuable" than other pieces in the edition.
BAROQUE - Extremely elaborate and ornate artistic style. This dynamic, theatrical style dominated art and architecture in Europe during the 17th Century.
BAS-RELIEF - literally, low relief. A sculptural relief technique in which the projection of the forms is relatively shallow.
BATIK - Method of dyeing textiles that originated in Java and spread to many African and Asian countries. Wax is applied to sections of material which are to remain uncolored; the dyes do not penetrate wax. After dying, the resist is removed, and the design appears in the original color against the newly colored background. Repeated waxing and dyeing results in colorful patterns. The lines typically found in batiks are produced by cracking the hardened wax before applying the dye.
BOTTOM MAT - In multiple mat combinations, that mat which is nearest the art.breathing - The expansion and contraction of paper, canvas, wood, and other absorbent grounds, in response to atmospheric conditions.
CANVAS - Heavy woven fabric usually of cotton or linen, used as a support for a painting. The surface is prepared for painting by applying gesso or rabbit skin glue. Interlocked or woven fibers used as the ground material for needle art. Plain woven cloth of natural fibers stretched taut over a frame. Usually primed before use.
CANVAS TRANSFER - process which lifts the image of a print off the paper support so that it can be transferred to a canvas mount.
CAST PAPER - paper made by pressing the pulp into a die or mold used for casting or shaping, becoming a work of art in and of itself. These artworks are created from 100% cotton rag paper. This is the same material which forms water color paper or printmaking paper. In this case the paper is rendered into a pulp and cast into specially created molds. Also the resulting 3 dimensional bas relief works.
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY - Document intended to validate the origin of a piece. Certificates of Authenticity for print editions usually have data on the publisher, title, size, reproduction method and media, and the number of impressions in the edition. They may also have a statement about the work from the artist.
CHROMO LITHOGRAPH - Colored lithograph, with at least three colors, in which each color is printed from a separate surface (stone or aluminum) and where the image is composed from the layering of those colors.
CHOPMARK (blind stamp) - Embossed stamp on a graphic used to identify the artist, printer or workshop. Most often visible in the lower right or lower left near the edge of the paper.
CIBACHROME - (photography) color photograph based on the silver dye-bleach system. The necessary colors (azo dyes) are built into the emulsion layers. These colors are bleached out where not needed during developing. Azo dyes produce more brilliant colors and have greater stability and resistance to light than any other current process. Ilford has renamed its process Ilfochrome.
Clear Glass - made with a smooth or polished surface on both sides. It is not etched, coated or laminated. It offers no protective qualities other than to keep dust off of the art work and matting.
COLLAGRAPH - A collage of materials which are sealed on a board and inked. It can be printed by inking the depressed area (intaglio) or as a relief by inking the raised areas.(prints & drawings) An intaglio printing process that uses a printing plate that has elements collaged to it. A collograph plate may also be used to make embossed prints.
COLLOTYPE - reproduction which, though made by a photomechanical printing process, is not broken up by half-tone screens so the resultant image is continuous tone. Color separation negatives are made from the original work of art, then are retouched to buildup the desired density and graduation of tones. The negatives are then exposed onto a light sensitive aluminum plate, and the plate is then run on a press. A separate negative and plate are made for each color (not be be confused with collograph).
CROSS-HATCHING - Fine lines used to shade or model. This technique is commonly used in drawing and engraving .Crosshatching consists of a series of parallel lines, crossed by others at right angles.
CUBISM - revolutionary art movement between 1907 and 1914 in which natural forms were changed by geometrical reduction. Leading figures were Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso.
DECKLE EDGE - Feathery edge of a sheet of handmade paper, caused by the deckle or frame which confines the pulp to the mold. Also present on some machine-made papers, caused by the rubber deckle straps at the sides of the paper machine. Deckled paper is less likely to warp than regular cut-edged paper.
DIPTYCH - a set of two prints making one complete image.
EDITION NUMBER - fraction found on the bottom left hand corner of a print. The top number is the sequence in the edition; the bottom number is the total number of prints in the edition. The number appears as a fraction usually in the lower left of the print. For instance the edition number 25/50 means that it is print number 25 out of a total edition of 50.
EMBOSSING - method of raising a design in relief on metal or paper. Often made by pressing printing paper into recessed areas of a plate or by pressing paper over raised areas on a plate to create a three-dimensional image.
EPREUVE d' ARTISTE - French term meaning "approved by the artist. " Abbreviated as "E.A.", the French term for artist's proof.
ESTATE SIGNED - A piece produced with the approval of the estate of a deceased artist and signed with a facsimile of the artist's signature.
ETCHING - form of intaglio printing in which the lines of the design are drawn on the metal plate and then bitten (etched or eaten away) by acid.
EXPRESSIONISM - a style of painting where the artist disregards traditional standards of proportion and realism while expressing his or her own inner experience of emotions by using distortion and emphasis. The artist's emotional response to the subject.
FAUVISM - An early twentieth century art movement and style of painting in France. The name Fauves, French for "Wild Beasts," was given to artists adhering to this style because it was felt that they used intense colors in a violent, uncontrolled way. The leader of the Fauves was Henri Matisse.
GESSO - An underpainting medium consisting of glue, plaster of paris, or chalk and water. Gesso is used to size the canvas and prepare the surface for painting.
GICLEE - method of printing reproductions in which a computerized inkjet printer sprays ink onto the paper. Both the process and the prints are called giclee.You may also see these referred to as 'Iris' prints. Pronounced (je-klay)
GOUACHE - A watercolor paint made opaque by the addition of white pigment or sizing. Unlike watercolors, gouache does not allow the whiteness of the paper to show through the paint (from the French term meaning opaque watercolor.) Also a painting done with such a medium.
HORS COMMERCE - Similar to an artist’s proof. Impressions pulled outside of the regular edition for the use by the publishers. This French term literally translates as "before business." Originally an Hors Commerce print was used as the color key and printing guide which the printer would use to insure consistency of the print run. Hors Commerce pieces are designated by the letters H.C. written on the print itself. These pieces are usually printer's proofs that are not for sale and are often used for promotional purposes. H.C. designations can also be used to extend the run of the edition. a portion of a limited edition that is not meant for sale. In recent times, the H.C. designation has simply become another portion of the total edition breakdown. Prints designated H.C. are readily sold, and have no higher (or lower) "value" than any other prints within the edition
IMPRESSIONISM - A painting technique in which the artist concentrates on the changing effects of light and color. Often this style can be characterized by its use of discontinuous brush strokes and heavy impasto. Neo-Impressionism and Post- Impressionism are outgrowths used to denote movements that came later.
INTAGLIO - meaning "cut in". A term that includes all metal plate engraving and etching processes in which the printing areas are recessed, e.g., engraving, etching, drypoint and aquatint.
LANDSCAPE - a painting, drawing or photograph of scenery such as trees, forests, meadows, and rivers. The movement toward a landscape being primary in a work of art, rather than simply the background, began in the 17th century.
LIMITED EDITION - a predetermined number of impressions to be made from a plate. The issue of something collectible, such as prints, limited to a certain quantity of numbered copies. The first number indicates the number of the piece; the second number indicates the total quantity of the edition, e.g., 135/250.
LITHOGRAPH - traditionally created on a stone or metal plate, the artist draws an image using a greasy ink tool. The greasy substance is chemically set into the surface so that only these areas accept ink. The treated areas transfer the design to the paper. The artist must create a plate for each color and the paper must be run through the plate for every color. Today's artists often use Mylar and other materials for their plates.  Lithographs are multiple originals, not to be confused with offset lithographic reproductions. A generic term used to designate a print made by a planographic process, such as an original lithograph done on a lithographic stone or a commercial print made by a photo-mechanical process.
LITHOGRAPHY - traditional planographic printing method which involves drawing or painting with greasy crayons or inks on a limestone block. The surface is then moistened with water. An oily ink is applied to the stone and adheres only to the drawing. The ink is repelled by the water which has soaked into the areas around the drawing. The print is pulled by pressing paper against the inked drawing, using a press. Variations of the technique are widely used in commercial reproductions. Often characterized by soft lines and blurry shapes. A greasy crayon is used to draw the design on the surface of a porous stone. More modern methods use disposable aluminum plates instead of the original limestone blocks. The stone is then thoroughly wetted and an oil based ink rolled across its surface. Where the greasy design has repelled the water, the ink will adhere. Paper is then pressed onto the stone. Each print in the edition usually requires re-wetting and re-inking the stone or plate.
MEDIUM - Most commonly, an artist's method of expression, such as ceramics, painting or glass. such as etching, silkscreening, painting, etc. that is used to create the work of art. The specific tool and material used by an artist. Also refers to a liquid added to a paint to increase its ability to be worked without affecting its essential properties.
MEZZOTINT - (prints & drawings) An intaglio printing process that produces areas of tone rather than clean lines.
MINT (as in condition) Describes artwork which is in the same condition as it was when originally finished, printed, etc. Taken from coinage, in the same condition as it was when it was minted.
MIXED MEDIA - produced by combining two or more different processes or mediums. As an example, a lithograph with etching would be considered a mixed media.
MODERNISM - Art movement characterized by the deliberate departure from tradition and the use of innovative forms of expression. Much of what distinguished modernism in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is common in African American art such as expressing feelings, ideas, fantasies, and dreams rather than representing what is real. Postmodernism has become a 'catch-all' term due to the great divergence of styles in the 20th century.
MONOPRINT - (prints & drawings) A print produced by painting directly onto an already etched surface and printing the image by hand onto paper.Monoprint: A one-of-a-kind print made by painting on a sheet of glass or metal, and transferring the still-wet painting to a sheet of paper. Enough of the original paint remains on the plate after the transfer so that the same or different colors can be reapplied to make subsequent prints, but no two prints will be exactly alike.
MONOTYPE - (prints & drawings) A print made when an artist draws or paints on a glass or metal plate and then prints the image onto paper. No two monotypes will be exactly alike.
MOLDING - Wood or metal which has been refined and shaped and which includes a rabbet for use in the framing industry.
OFFSET (PRINTING) - lithographic printing which is done not directly from the lithographic plate. Offset printing is usually considered to be a photo-mechanical process. offset-lithography
OFFSET LITHOGRAPH - photomechanical printing process by which offset reproductions are made. These may be open or limited edition prints. A process in which the printed image is transferred, or offset, from one roller or plate to another and then transferred to the printing paper. Offset lithographs should be termed reproductions rather than originals prints. This process eliminates the need to draw the image in reverse on the stone or plate.
OIL (PAINT) Artists’ colors made from ground pigments suspended in oil, usually linseed. They have the consistency of a smooth paste. The most flexible and luminous of all paint mediums. Also refers to any work produced using this medium.
OIL PASTEL - Oil pigment mixed with gum and pressed into a dried stick form for use. They look like a thick crayon and have a much oilier consistency than a regular pastel which has a chalk-like consistency.
OPEN EDITION PRINT - offset reproduction produced in an unlimited number. An edition having an unlimited number of prints in it.
ORIGINAL - A work of art conceived and produced solely by the artist, or under his direct supervision. Graphic works such as lithographs, silkscreens, etchings, etc, are considered to be "original multiples" as the finished print is the only manifestation of such work. A unique piece of artwork that cannot be exactly duplicated, e.g., an oil painting on canvas. While the image may be duplicated as a print, the reproduction is not oil paint on canvas.
ORIGINAL PRINT - print made from the original plate, block, stone, screen, etc. which the artist has created and printed from himself.
PALETTE - 1) A non-absorbent surface on which to mix paint. 2) The set of colors on such a surface. 3) The range of colors a given artist or school of art prefers .Palette - Most commonly, the selected group of colors an artist chooses for a particular work or group of works. Also refers to the board or other surface on which a painter mixes his or her colors.
PAPER - A substance made from cotton, wood or other fibrous material, usually in thin sheets, used for writing, printing or drawing. Archival works are done on rag paper. It is Ph-balanced, and it bends rather than breaking or cracking. Arches is the most commonly used brand-name of rag paper. If a print is done on Arches paper, you will probably be able to see the Arches watermark by holding the print up to the light.
PARCHMENT - 1) A translucent or opaque material made from split skins of small animals, usually lambs or kids (goat) that have been limed, void of hair, scraped and dried under tension to produce a fine, thin, strong surface for writing, bookbinding or other uses. 2) Paper with a texture resembling true parchment.
PASTEL - A crayon made from pigment mixed with just enough binding agent to hold it together. Also a painting (not a drawing) made with pastel crayons. Pastel crayons have varying ratios of pigment to chalk and gum; the more pigment, the more intense the color.
PATINA - 1) A film or encrustation, usually green, appearing gradually on a surface of copper and bronze, due to weathering and as a result of oxidation. 2) An opaque toning used to stimulate aging or to dull the brightness of a gilded surface. 3) A deep, soft polished gleam acquired by wood and metal after years of wear and polishing.
PENCIL SIGNED - a signature that is written by the hand of the artist, in pencil. The signature is usually located in the lower right portion of the work, below the image in the white margin. A pencil-signed print bears original or limited edition status. Pencils are used because they generally do not fade as do some commercial inks.
PLATEMARK - a mark or line on the paper left when the plate and paper are forced together by the press. The indented impression on the damp paper made by the etched plate when passed through the press. Prints taken from wood blocks or lithographic stones seldom show impressions of this kind.
PLATE SIGNED - Prints in which the artist's signature is put onto the plate itself, and then transferred to the print through the same process as the rest of the design.
PLEIN AIR - Literally, "open air." Refers to the practice of painting outdoors to capture optimal light and atmosphere
POCHOIR - a stencil and stencil-brush process used to make multicolor prints, for tinting black and white prints, and for coloring reproductions and book illustrations, especially fine and limited editions. Pochoir, which is the French word for stencil, is sometimes called hand coloring or hand illustration. This process was much used in Paris during the early decades of the 20th century. Especially popular in the art deco period, used for fashion plates amongst other things.
POP ART - style derived from commercial art forms and characterized by larger than life replicas of items from mass culture. This style evolved in the late 1950s and was characterized in the 1960s by such artists as Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, Claus Olden berg, Roy Liechtenstein, Larry Rivers, Robert Crushable, George Se gal, and Robert Indiana.
POST-IMPRESSIONISM - art movement that immediately followed Impressionism, showing a greater emphasis on structure and form while rejecting naturalism. Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Gauguin are examples.
PRIMARY COLORS - yellow, red and blue, which, when mixed, yield all other colors but cannot themselves be produced by any combination of colors.
PRIMITIVE - Refers to a self-taught artist having or affecting a direct, unschooled style, or any work produced by such an artist.
PRINT - An image made from an inked surface. Prints are usually, but not always, produced in multiples.rint Any impression taken on paper (or silk, canvas or any other material) from any kind of plate or block, worked either by hand or by photomechanical means.
PRINTMAKING - (prints & drawings) In printing, ink is transferred to paper from another material, usually a metal plate or a wooden block. If the plate or block has been worked so it will receive ink in the same way each time it is applied, then there is a matrix and more than one print can be made.
PRINTER'S (OR PUBLISHER'S) PROOF - One of a small group of prints set aside from an edition for a printer's (publisher's) use. Designated as "P.P." or "P/P", it is simply a portion of the total number of prints in an edition. Traditionally retained by the publisher or printer for promotional purposes (and usually printed on a different paper,) they now are often available for sale. Along with HC's seem to be a way to 'stretch' an edition. If prints designated as P/P's are identical to the signed and numbered prints within the edition, they have no higher (or lower) "value" than any other prints of that edition.
RAG PAPER - Paper created by beating cotton or linen into fibers. These fibers have a stronger bond than wood fibers, resulting in greater durability. Although rag paper can contain a small proportion of wood fiber, higher quality rag paper contains a higher amount of cotton fibers.
REALISM - The depiction of figures, objects or scenes with minimal distortion or stylization.
REMARQUE - Originally, a sketch made by the artist on the margin of an etched plate. Now, more commonly, a small drawing made by the artist in the border or margin of his/her print. Remarqued limited edition reproductions usually have added value. The sketches (sometimes an mini painting) are original in the sense that they are hand done and that no two are (supposed to be) alike. Careful inspection should be made to insure it is not a printed remarque. A printed remarque should not add value to the limited edition print.
REPRINTS/RESTRIKES - prints pulled from old or refashioned plates, usually after the death of the artist.  Restrikes should be clearly labeled as such and should not be sold as originals. Produced after the original edition was issued and from the original plates or blocks.
RESTORATION - cosmetic repair of an object to recreate its original appearance.
SECONDARY MARKET - the market that exists for artwork once owned by a private individual. An arena where limited edition prints are resold after the edition has been sold out at the original sources.
SEPIA - 1) A reddish-brown color. 2) Warm, reddish-brown pigment produced from octopus or cuttlefish ink, used in watercolor and drawing ink. In photography, some toning processes produce such a color in the print.
SERICEL - artwork created to resemble an animation cel, but using screen printing techniques.
SERIGRAPH - (Silkscreen/Screen Print) – A color stencil printing process in which paint, rather than ink, is forced through a fine screen onto the paper beneath. A stencil must be made, and the paper must be run through the press, for each color. The direct technique is versatile enough to produce an unlimited range of colors and depths, which justifies to some extent the opinion that serigraphy is as much a painter's as a printmaker's medium. The design is drawn on the screen (at one time silk was the general material of choice, before technology provided better materials at less cost) and is either cut out (stencil) or stopped out with varnish. Ink or paint is then wiped or squeegeed across the screen, and penetrates to the paper placed immediately below the screen. Different colors usually require the use of different screens, with the many colors being built up on the paper with each successive squeegee of ink or paint.
SIGNED & NUMBERED (S/N) - created by the artist signing and numbering each print. Both limited edition graphics and limited edition reproductions are S/N. The number appears as one number over another such as 25/100. This tells us this was the 25th print to be signed in an edition of 100. In limited edition reproductions there is no difference between low and high numbered prints.
SILKSCREEN - A method of printmaking in which the reverse of an image is put on a screen of silk or other mesh, with blank areas coated, and ink is forced through the mesh onto the surface, resulting in a screen print. Also called serigraphy.
SKETCH - A quick drawing captures the essence of an object or situation, often done as preparation for a larger or more detailed work.
SOLD OUT – A limited edition that is no longer available from the artist, artist's publisher or agent. When a limited edition print is no longer available through normal retail channels, prices for the art are set exclusivley by the seller and are generally higher than the original release price.
STIPPLE - (prints & drawings) An intaglio printing process in which the design to be printed is composed of groups of dots rather than lines, resulting in areas of tone. Stipple may be accomplished by engraving or etching.
STRETCHER BAR - A strip of wood with tongue-and-groove ends. Bars are joined to form an expandable frame over which canvas is stretched.
SUBSTRATE - A term from substratum meaning a layer lying under another. Generally used to denote a foundation material upon which an item is mounted or otherwise functions as a carrier.
SUITE - When two or more images are published or released together, the grouping is referred to as a suite, as in "this is a suite of four pieces."
SURREALISM - 20th-century artistic movement that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter. Salvador Dali is likley the most famous artist of this style.
TEMPERA - Pigment which is mixed with water or egg yolk and usually applied to board or panel.
ULTRAVIOLET (UV) LIGHT - Short, high energy invisible light waves beyond violet in the spectrum with a length of 250 to 400 nanometers. This type of lighting is harmful to either paper or canvas artwork. Paper art can be protected by either conservation or museum quality glass.
VELLUM/PARCHMENT - (painting) Animal skin processed so that it has a smooth surface suitable for writing or painting.
WATERCOLOR - (painting) Watercolor paints are made with pigments dispersed in gum arabic, and are characterized by luminous transparency Also the name given to a work of art produced using this type of paint.
Watermark- 1) A design, pattern or mark on paper, usually produced by a raised area on which the paper is made. Watermarks on handmade papers are made by very low relief molds or designs of fine wire set on the screen on which the moist pulp collects. Watermark A translucent name or design molded into the paper during the manufacturing process, usually in the border area; more visible when held up to a light.
Woodcut - One of the earliest forms of printmaking, in which the design is carved in wood, with the areas not to be printed being cut away. The block is then inked and paper is pressed down on the woodblock. Colors can be added by using different blocks, or altering the one block and re-inking. Woodcuts are usually black lines on white.