graphic arts

The most elementary way to define Graphic Arts is – the transfer of a design created with a medium onto a material in the form of an image (such as simply making a print on paper with a rubber stamp).

The first thought to cross ones mind with respect to Graphic Art is that it is a highly modern, technology requiring art form. It has, no doubt, evolved to use computer software, cameras and cutting edge technology to a great extent, but this art began long before the aforementioned technologies can even be imagined to have existed.
It might come as a surprise to note that prints made from carved wood blocks in the Tang Dynasty of the 7th century are the earliest instances of the Art.

Lithography (the image is placed on a flat surface and induced to hold onto ink or other media while the background is treated in such a way that it doesn’t take the ink or other medium of choice.), Bindery (essentially book binding and innovative ways of achieving this goal) and Serigraphy (creating prints by using the ‘silk-screen’ method) are the three prime subdivisions of Graphic Art - which now, also includes the creation of images for digital display and not only printing purposes.

This field has undergone many changes over the years. Processes like plate making have become automated with the advent of computers and digital technology. A large amount of handwork can now be done with the help of user friendly software like Paint and Photoshop. A Graphic Artist today does a variety of jobs – poster making, animation, advertisement conceptualization and product package designing to give it a most appealing look and feel for marketing purposes to name a few. This is one field of art which seems to be expanding and incorporating newer ideas and methods by the day.