Throughout human history people have expressed themselves and written their stories in bone and stone. Indeed the scratched line into a surface formed the basis for hieroglyphs, petroglyphs and pictographs and cuneiform. More recently, artisans scratched lines into wood, metal and linoleum to decorate; to portray and communicate ideas; and to record important events.
Scratchboard (Scraperboard) came into its own in the 19th Century in response to an increased demand for illustrations used in magazines, posters, books, handbills, newspapers and other official documents – which made hand engraving and lithography techniques both artistically and economically impractical.
A variety of qualities of board is available.
