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
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.