Lithotine

Lithotine can be used for washing-out ink from the lithographic image and for general cleanup in lithography. Lithotine is a substitute for turpentine.

Lithotine can be used for washing-out ink from the lithographic image and for general cleanup in lithography. Lithotine is a petroleum solvent and it contains a small amount of pine oil. Lithotine is used to wash out the image prior to applying asphaltum wit a rag or Kim Wipe onto the litho plate or stone. The next step is to wipe the asphaltum off of the image with a damp sponge. This is done before rolling with a leather roller and a roll up ink. When the image is inked up rosen than talk are buffed into the image. Finally Gum Arabic is buffed onto the litho plate or stone. Lithotine is also used in the second etch process of lithography. Lithotine can penetrate the gum arabic and slightly etch the image.

Storing and disposing

Lithotine is flammable and should be stored in a flammable storage cabinet. For ease of use and safe dispensing of lithotine the printmaking studio should transfer the lithotine from larger storage containers into a Justrite dispensing bottles or Tern plate safety cans for flammable liquids. Lithotine can also be used as the solvent for tusche washes.Lithotine is sold by the gallon.