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Glite Dictionary
planography

planography

9.9
A printing method where image parts take ink and other parts do not, all on the same flat surface
  • noun
  • /ˌplænəˈɡrɑfi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : planografía
  • In planography, the printing and non-printing areas are on the same level surface.

Examples

  • Lithography is a common form of planography used in art and commercial printing.

  • The development of planography revolutionized the printing industry in the 19th century.

  • The planography technique is widely used in modern printing.

  • Many artists prefer planography for its unique effects.

  • In planography, the printing and non-printing areas are on the same level surface.

  • Lithography is a common form of planography used in art and commercial printing.

  • The development of planography revolutionized the printing industry in the 19th century.

Synonyms

lithography
vsplanography
  • Specialized
1 8.4

A printing method using a flat stone or metal to make ink prints

is the broader flat-surface technique that covers this specific transfer method
planographic printing
vsplanography
  • Specialized
9.3

A printing method using a flat surface where ink sticks to some parts and not others

has the same technical meaning but follows a more detailed original definition

Surface Forms

planography singular
planographies plural

Morphology

planography = plano + graphy

The form clearly combines the technical elements plano- and -graphy, but the specialized printing sense is not immediately accessible to most learners.

Etymology

Planography comes from parts that mean 'flat' and 'writing': the plan- part means 'flat' (like plane) and the -graphy part means 'writing' (like photography). So, planography is 'writing on a flat surface', which fits the printing process where the image and non-image areas are on the same level.