The printing of the plates: reduction printing
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can create a reduction printing plate and print with ink
Key learning points
- Printing a plate requires a thick layer of ink. If it is too wet the design will be lost.
- The process for printing a plate is add ink, apply pressure and reveal.
- The print process is trial and error. Several prints need to be taken to refine the process.
Keywords
Reduction print - a printmaking technique where the plate is carved between each layer, reducing the printing surface with each stage
Opaque - being impenetrable to light, the opposite of transparent; in printmaking, it describes inks that completely cover underlying layers without allowing previous colours to show through
Common misconception
Once ink is applied to the plate, the design is fixed and cannot be changed.
The printing process is about trying and adjusting. Artists can refine their design through trial and error, removing layers of ink or adding new ones to adjust their composition. It’s important to approach the process with flexibility and patience.
Teacher tip
This lesson could be achieved using poly tiles, as shown, or lino cut. Images of maps have been provided in the Additional Materials; however, selecting your own image might give an opportunity to addpt to your local context.
Equipment
Paper, tracing paper, masking tape, pens and pencils, printing ink, roller, paper.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which is the most accurate statement to define printmaking?
Q2.Match the printmaking term to its definition.
a surface that is carved or altered for printing
the substance applied to the plate to create prints
a tool used to spread ink evenly
Q3.Reduction printmaking involves a plate between each layer to reduce the printing surface.
Q4.Which of these tools is not commonly used in printmaking?
Q5.Which are the most likely reasons artists create multiple prints?
Q6.What does a printing press do?
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.What is the key characteristic of a reduction print?
Q2.Why must the ink be applied in thick, opaque layers?
Q3.If ink is too wet, the design will be lost because ink will get into the ...
Q4.Why is trial and error important in the printmaking process?
Q5.Match the keyword to its definition.
carving the plate between each layer
ink that is solid and not see-through
repeating the process to improve the print
To help you plan your 8 art and design lesson on: The printing of the plates: reduction printing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 art and design lesson on: The printing of the plates: reduction printing, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 art and design lessons from the Being curious about printing unit, dive into the full secondary art and design curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.