Final answer:
Lithography plates can be reused because the image, created using a grease-based medium, is burned onto the plate, allowing non-image areas to be water-receptive and ink-repellent, and the ink can be cleaned off for reuse.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lithography plates can be reused because the image is burned into the plate and the ink can be easily removed. Contrary to intaglio printing, which involves incising or etching channels into a plate that are then filled with ink, lithography relies on the principle that oil and water do not mix.
The artist creates an image with a grease-based medium, which is then treated to repel water, while the rest of the plate attracts water but repels ink. When the plate is inked, the substance only sticks to the greased image areas. After printing, the ink can be cleaned off, and the plate can be re-gummed and used again for another print run.