WOODCUT is the earliest relief-printing process, which uses a wood block cut plankwise as a printing plate. An image is drawn onto it, and immediately around the outline the surface of the wood is cut away with a knife, whereas larger areas are removed with a chisel or a gouge. The outline remains higher and, when covered with printer's ink, yields a black print. Characteristic of woodcut are bold lines and contrasts of surfaces. In larger surfaces, the grain of the wood also leaves its traces onto the print. The woodcut plate yields about 1,000 prints.