A technical dictionary of printmaking, André Béguin.
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gumming or gumming up
In lithographic work this is the term used for one of the steps in preparing the plate or stone for printing.
When the ink or crayon drawing has been made on stone, on a zinc plate, or on an aluminium plate, an acidulous solution containing gum arabic is spread over it. This solution will protect all the areas that have not been drawn upon as it refuses ink and accepts water. The acidulous gumming is sometimes removed superficially in order to apply a second layer of pure gum arabic that has been slightly diluted. However, this second layer is not always applied. The purpose of this second layer is to protect the stone from the following step which is a special washing.
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