Proofing

Now the really important part of the whole printing process happens. The inked plate is laid face up on tissue backing paper on the bed of the press. The dampened paper that will receive the ink of the image is carefully laid on top of this. A further layer of tissue backing paper makes the sandwich complete.

With the blankets in place, the press is put to work, first one way and then the other; pressure of several tonnes pushes the fibres of the damp paper into the etched lines of the plate. The blankets and tissue paper are removed and the first proof is peeled off.