A technical dictionary of printmaking, André
Béguin.
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"Printmaking dictionary"
lithographic
crayon
Lithographic crayons are square shaped
sticks that resemble pencil leads. They are made of white wax, soap,
lac,
mastic, sheep tallow,
lamp
black, and, for the hardest grade
crayons,
copal.
Lithographic crayons come in six different degrees of hardness. The
copal crayon traces a severe gray line on the stone while the softest
grade, n.5, produces a fat black line. The softest grade crayon is
difficult to work with because the warmth of the artist's hand can
make it melt. These crayons can be held with a holder or then
directly in the hand as one would hold a pencil. The crayon can also
be held on its side in order to make longitudinal or transversal
lines in one stroke obtaining large gray areas. The edge of the
crayon can be used to obtain straight and fine lines. The hardest
grade crayons can be sharpened with a pencil sharpener or a polisher.
Some lithographic crayons are round and are protected by a paper
ribbon which can be unrolled as the crayon is used
[lithoqraphy,
ink].
Lithographic crayons are also used in
serigraphy
and on metal plates as, for example, in
etching.
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