Photo + Lithoanstalt Weiss was a German printing and reproduction studio active in the early 1970s. The company’s name combines two core production methods: photography and lithography, reflecting its dual role in image capture and print reproduction.
Design and History
The visual identity for Photo + Lithoanstalt Weiss was created in 1973 by German graphic designer Hans E. Scheur, who is also credited with designing the identity for the German printing company Sd Druck.[1]
Scheur’s mark for the studio pairs a photographic portrait with a graphic profile, visually linking the two disciplines named in the company title. The design places a realistic, photographic image alongside a simplified, linear profile, suggesting the relationship between original photography and its lithographic reproduction. This approach reflects a broader shift in early 1970s graphic design toward conceptual, image-driven compositions rather than purely ornamental or decorative marks.
Little additional documentation about the studio’s history, its founding date, or the circumstances of the commission has been preserved in accessible sources. The identity survives primarily through Scheur’s portfolio, which records the 1973 date and the studio’s name.
Meaning and Symbolism
The logo’s dual imagery directly mirrors the company’s name. The photographic portrait represents the studio’s camera-based work, while the graphic profile references the lithographic printing process that transformed photographs into reproducible printed matter. The pairing of the two images in a single mark emphasizes the studio’s combined capabilities in both image production and print reproduction.
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