THE THREE MAIN CLASSES OF PRINTS. 



Prints may be classed as — 



I. Belief Prints, 

 II. Intaglio Prints, 

 III. Surface Prints, 



according to whether the black line of the design (i.e. the part inked for 

 printing) on the original block, plate, or stone, is I. in relief, II. in 

 intaglio (i.e. cut into the surface), III. on the surface (i.e. on a level 

 with the rest of the surface). 



These divisions correspond roughly to — 



I. Woodcut and Wood-Engraving (Process A). 

 II. Engraving and Etching on Metal (Processes B-G). 

 III. Lithography (Process H). 



The chief exception to the correspondence is in the case of early 

 relief prints on metal, as well as such experiments as Blake's etchings 

 in relief, which are here treated in the same class as woodcuts, partaking 

 as they do of the same essential character in the impression. A less 

 important exception is formed by sm'face prints from metal plates, 

 which can strictly be classed with lithographs on similar grounds, the 

 impression being taken on exactly the same principle. 



