Invented by Alois Senefelder of
Bavaria,
lithography is a printing process that involves using a flat and smooth piece of
limestone and drawing onto it an image with a
grease pencil. The limestone is then etched with an acidic solution, leaving greased areas in slightly higher
relief than the rest of the stone. Next, the stone is wetted with water and covered in a
greasy ink. Since grease and water repel each other, the ink is repelled from the wet areas of the stone and adheres to the grease pencil lines. A
piece of paper is then placed on the inked stone, pressure applied, and then removed from the
press.
Source:
Currier & Ives Lithography, http://www.currierprints.com/