Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
estampage
English translation:
taking a cast of / making an impression of
Added to glossary by
Tony M
Dec 7, 2008 23:23
15 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
United States
22 Yrs in the Biz & Still Learning Daily
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 2 more.
estampage
French to English
Art/Literary
Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting
I only find this term defined as 'stamping', but I have read about its use in creating an image on paper from a three-dimentional surface. The image comes out reversed. In the study I am translating, this is a technique being used to create images of footprints in a prehistoric cave. Would this be a 'rubbing'?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 2 +3 | take an impression of |
Tony M
|
Change log
Dec 16, 2008 07:17: Tony M Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
4 mins
French term (edited):
estamper
Selected
take an impression of
I think it would only be called a 'rubbing' if the relief is fairly low, and a rubbing' technique would be applicable (as in brass rubbing, etc.)
Otherwise, in forensic science, when we are doing the same sort of tHing with say a shoe-print our a tyre tread mark, it would actually be taken as an impression using either a plaster cast, or some kind of rubber-type product.
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Note added at 11 mins (2008-12-07 23:34:23 GMT)
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Yes, I think so, if they are indeed literally 3-dimensional...
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Note added at 12 mins (2008-12-07 23:35:44 GMT)
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We do also say 'take a acst' of things, but I think 'impression' is probably preferable, particularly if you are not 100% sure about the precise technique... after all, a brass rubbing could be described as an 'impression' too — but not a 'cast'! ;-)
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Note added at 12 mins (2008-12-07 23:36:01 GMT)
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Oops, sorry, 'cast', of course!
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Note added at 10 hrs (2008-12-08 09:33:32 GMT)
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In the light of that extra context, then I would still say you could use 'take a latex impression of' — cf. this lone Google hit:
THE INSCRIPTION OF FIRUZABAD
...man from Persepolis to Firuzabad with instructions to take a latex impression. of the inscription, which he duly did. Those who have had experience with ...
www.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/~asiamajor/pdf/1954/1954-98.pdf
('take a latex cast' gets a couple more hits, but not a landslide!)
Otherwise, in forensic science, when we are doing the same sort of tHing with say a shoe-print our a tyre tread mark, it would actually be taken as an impression using either a plaster cast, or some kind of rubber-type product.
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Note added at 11 mins (2008-12-07 23:34:23 GMT)
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Yes, I think so, if they are indeed literally 3-dimensional...
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Note added at 12 mins (2008-12-07 23:35:44 GMT)
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We do also say 'take a acst' of things, but I think 'impression' is probably preferable, particularly if you are not 100% sure about the precise technique... after all, a brass rubbing could be described as an 'impression' too — but not a 'cast'! ;-)
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Note added at 12 mins (2008-12-07 23:36:01 GMT)
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Oops, sorry, 'cast', of course!
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Note added at 10 hrs (2008-12-08 09:33:32 GMT)
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In the light of that extra context, then I would still say you could use 'take a latex impression of' — cf. this lone Google hit:
THE INSCRIPTION OF FIRUZABAD
...man from Persepolis to Firuzabad with instructions to take a latex impression. of the inscription, which he duly did. Those who have had experience with ...
www.ihp.sinica.edu.tw/~asiamajor/pdf/1954/1954-98.pdf
('take a latex cast' gets a couple more hits, but not a landslide!)
Note from asker:
| Thank you. Now that you say that, I am looking more closely at the photocopy I have of the article, and I see that these could be made of plaster or a rubber-type product. Would I call them 'impressions' then? |
| Thanks for this thorough discussion, Tony, |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Helen Shiner
: With cast, suggest 'mould' possibly also. But 'impression' could be a sketch and I would suggest a distinction should be made. 'Rubbing' definitely not, for the reasons you give amongst others./Phrase you must have heard: 'cast in the same mould'?
12 mins
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Thanks, Helen! I think 'impression' is OK if used with the verb 'take', since a sketch would use 'make', for example; but as long as we're sure of the technique used, then 'cast' would certainly be more precise. Have not personally come across 'mould'
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| agree |
Cervin
: Impression or cast
8 hrs
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Thanks, Cervin! :-)
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| agree |
emiledgar
: cast, mold, impression.
13 hrs
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Merci, Emile !
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "With this information, I was able to determine that the figures were made with silicone elastomer and thus decided to call them casts of footprints."
Discussion