Chinese Christian propaganda posters were mass produced using offset printing techniques. Each color was applied by a separate plate. The more plates used in the process, the more expensive the poster. Since the object was to saturate China with “silent preachers,” even the most elaborate and colorful posters were relatively inexpensive. Costs were kept low by using cheap paper and large production runs. Because the posters were etched onto plates, they could be reprinted multiple times. Close observation will show that sometimes reprints changed in color. Other times, more substantial changes were introduced by adding a new plate to the work of art.
Posters
Chinese Christian propaganda posters were mass produced using offset printing techniques. Each color was applied by a separate plate. The more plates used in the process, the more expensive the poster. Since the object was to saturate China with "silent preachers," even the most elaborate and colorful posters were relatively inexpensive. Costs were kept low by using cheap paper and large production runs. Because the posters were etched onto plates, they could be reprinted multiple times. Close observation will show that sometimes reprints changed in color. Other times, more substantial changes were introduced by adding a new plate to the work of art.