What distinguishes relief printing from other printing methods?

Relief printing is characterized by the necessity of a raised image from which the ink is applied. In this technique, the areas that are raised, typically carved or etched from a block (such as wood, linoleum, or metal), are the only parts that make contact with the ink and subsequently transfer that ink onto the printing surface, like paper. This method effectively creates a distinct printed image that is separate from the non-raised areas which do not receive ink.

This differentiation is fundamental to understanding relief printing as it highlights the unique physical aspect of the technique. In contrast, other printing methods like lithography and screen printing utilize different approaches to image transfer that do not rely on a raised surface. Also, options related to the type of ink used or the availability of formats do not specifically pertain to the fundamental definition of relief printing itself.