What is the process of physically assembling negatives and positives on a flat plate for printing called?

The process of physically assembling negatives and positives on a flat plate for printing is known as stripping. This term refers specifically to the practice in the printing and graphic arts industry where images or designs are combined onto a single plate, which is then used to create a print. Stripping is essential for producing multi-colored images, as it allows the different colored plates to be aligned accurately before the final printing process takes place.

Mounting generally involves attaching one material to another and does not specifically pertain to the assembling of negatives and positives. Laminating involves sealing materials between layers of plastic, primarily for protection rather than the arrangement of film negatives for printing. Binding refers to the process of fastening pages together to create a book or booklet, and is not relevant to the printing plate assembly process. Thus, stripping is clearly the core concept here, as it is vital for preparing the print media for reproduction.