Hi,
I am intersted in block printing, I am wondering if any of you have done it, and if you could recommend info
Thanks
A
I am intersted in block printing, I am wondering if any of you have done it, and if you could recommend info
Thanks
A
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Re: block printing?
Mon, February 9, 2004 - 1:37 PMAs in woodblock printing or linoleum block printing? Similar in concept, but ever so slightly different. There are many techniques to produces images in relief printing. What specific questions do you have? -
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Re: block printing?
Mon, February 9, 2004 - 3:55 PMI guess I want to start with a simple block printing process. I saw this rubber-like block in the art store, and there were some knives around, but I didn't know which to get. So, what would you recommend for simple block printing.
I also want to try Linoleum printing. Is that something you can teach yourself?
Thanks
A -
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Re: block printing?
Mon, February 9, 2004 - 8:41 PMyou can do any of it yourself. you probably saw "safty cut" if it was white and eraser like. if you want to do wood, i reccomend getting "shina wood" (sp?) its thin layers of wood with the grains reversered, its soft, and double sided. i do all of my woodcuts with an x-acto and a u-gouge, but its fun to play with all the tools (also, x-actos dont make it look like a woodblock print, it looks more screen printish).
the only thing you have to remember, is dont carve toward yourself, what you REMOVE will be the color of the paper, what LEAVE will be the color of your ink, everything will print in mirror image of your block, soft rollers create less wood-grain in the print, but pick up carving textures (if you are not careful), hard rollers leave out carving texture and pick up wood-grains. (oh, and you can use a wooden spoon to press the paper on your block, just line the back of your paper with a piece of news print so you dont mark it up or tear it)
go play.
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Blatantly stolen from a website
Tue, February 10, 2004 - 9:08 AMA lino print results when a piece of linoleum (either household or special lino you can purchase from an art supply store) has had pieces cut out of it, been inked and been printed. For this activity, sharp tools are required.
:: What You Need ::
Paint or ink
Soft rubber brayers or small paint rollers or paint brushes.
An old cookie tray or piece of plexiglass to roll the ink out on.
Linoleum cutters.
Piece of linoleum. (You can purchase small pieces of linoleum for printmaking from any art supply store. A special softoleum is available for school use. This material is extra soft and very nice to work with).
Paper
:: What You Do ::
The tools used in this case are straight knives, V-shaped tools and U-shaped gouges.
The basic idea is that you cut away those areas you wish to remain the color of the paper you are printing on. The images can be as simple or as detailed as you wish.
It is possible to draw your idea out on paper first, then transfer the image onto the linoleum using carbon paper.
Once the design has been carved into the lino, you are ready to print using a small amount of ink which is rolled onto the lino. (See printing with a brayer directions found in Printmaking 102).
Paper is placed on the plate and rubbed lightly.
Repeat until you have an edition of prints.
:: One Step Further ::
Experiment with different types of paper.
:: Tips ::
You can make the linoleum easier to cut by warming it up on a hot plate before carving into it. Always cut AWAY from yourself. ALWAYS make sure you are using sharp -- not dull -- tools. -
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Re: Blatantly stolen from a website
Thu, April 15, 2004 - 1:13 PMJust joined the tribe :)
> Always cut AWAY from yourself. ALWAYS make sure you are
> using sharp -- not dull -- tools.
A friend of mine built for me a very simple board, made with recycled wood. I posted its picture (#7), I find it simply brilliant (the design is not mine...).
It looks like a picture frame with two L shaped corners mounted on the opposite sides of the board (see picture, my english sucks! :) )
One corner (top) holds the block while you carve it, the other pushes against the table corner and prevents the board from sliding on the table. I hold the block with my thumb and because of the shape of the board, the natural way of using it (without sliding block/board) is by carving away from yourself.
I haven't seen it anywhere, I hope it is helpful to save some finger...
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Re: Blatantly stolen from a website
Thu, April 15, 2004 - 1:39 PMThis is a very simple design and really easy to make out of scrap wood.
I used to use one, but my carving style is too frenetic to use one. I keep turning it at odd angles and moving the entire board every few seconds.
Another suggestion to keep the board stuck to the table you're working on is to use the tacky, web material used in keep rugs from sliding around. It's really inexpensive and can be found in kitchen/bath or carpet stores. Cut to size; comes in a lot of colors, if that matters.
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Re: Blatantly stolen from a website
Thu, June 30, 2005 - 11:15 AMI have even used the lid to a nice sized plastic storage container. It catches all your shavings, and also provides a lip to hold your linoleum block. It works really well.
No drilling, screwing, wood, required.
=)
Don't you get gouged enough at the gas pump?
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Re: block printing?
Fri, June 4, 2004 - 12:00 AMlinoleum cuts are the core of my business. i think you will find that carving that soft white stuff is disatisfying, since it can only be printed by hand, and due to its softness, it will always look messy. i prefer linoleum over wood because it allows for a cleaner line, and since there is no grain, you can carve in any direction, and it makes curves easier. i like the linoleum that is already mounted on a block, but you can get the unmounted kind too.
printing by hand, while traditional and convenient, makes multiple color prints difficult. yes, people do it, but it also makes it hard to produce large editions, unless you want to be rubbing paper with a spoon for days.
i think the best way to print blocks is on a letterpress (of course, i'm biased), simply because it makes registration SO easy! most mounted blocks are a little lower than type high, but you can solve that problem with a little make-ready (ie, a piece of cardboard glued to the bottom of the block). you can also use an etching press or a litho press, if you have access to one.
as for carving, i like the speedball multi-blade tool. there is a knife-like blade in there for fine cutting, and there's the no. 5, which is a large U, and good for cutting away large areas (try that with an exacto and you'll find yourself breaking blades all the time). i do almost all my carving with the no.3 blade, which is a medium V shape. you can buy a kit at most art stores that has the handle and 5 or 6 blades in it. and you can store the blades inside the handle for easy transportation.
hope that helps.... if you're even still curious. -
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Re: block printing?
Fri, June 4, 2004 - 8:54 AMI have to disagree on some points, but mostly because it is a personal taste essentially. I'm a sucker for wood over linoleum, but purely for the opposite reasons you like linoleum.
I think one of the main reasons why I like using wood is that it does have grain and is at times unpredictable - although if you get quality wood and know how to read it, this isn't an issue. There is a certain serendipity in the soul of the wood when you cut into it. Linoleum to me is always predictable and doesn't have character. Again, this is personal taste.
I prefer to print the blocks by hand as I have more control over the density of the applied ink, whether or not I want to shade areas, and the applied intensity. The press is to a degree faceless in how it applies pressure. Some tricks can be used, true, but overall it just applies consistant pressure.
Registration is stupidly easy when handprinting multi-colored blocks. There are at least half a dozen tricks that you can use to get perfect alignment every time. Since I've been using one particular method, my areas of color only need the most minimal of bleed. Really, it's not that big of an issue.
The Speedball gouges are perfect for linoleum. The fancy-schmancy Japanese tools are great for wood, but are either overkill or totally inadequate for linoleum. Plus, you can find the Speedballs at any art store. Broke a V-gouge? No worries, any art place will have them in stock. You won't find that for Japanese tools.
Understand that a lot of what I'm saying is just a personal nature. What works for me is in no way the correct method. Just something that fits my nature, style, and method after going through various mediums, tools, and styles. That's the nice thing about relief printing: the tools and mediums are relatively cheap. If something doesn't work well for you or isn't quite comfortable, try something else. -
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Re: block printing?
Thu, July 22, 2004 - 4:40 PMI have a couple of tricks I use when lino-cut printing. First, the soft white stuff IS crap. To easy to take out huge chunks, hard to get definition, and I agree to sloppy. I use the lino mounted on wood blocks. A couple of years ago I picked up a old school style shrink wrapping block from a restaraunt auction. Basically, it like a electrical heating block, covered in some heat resistant coating. I plug it in and set my blocks lino side down on it for a few minutes before I cut, and I re heat it each time it cools. The lino gets soft and pliable, allowing cleaner cuts, and allowing me to work faster. I am only guessing, but I suppose you could use an electric heating pad on high.
Also, I highly reccomend a marble rolling pin over a soft rubber brayer. The weightiness helps me to get a cleaner lift while hand printing, and prevents paper slippage.
Hazen
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Re: block printing?
Wed, March 29, 2006 - 8:13 PMLinoleum definately is easier to carve. However it's ink holding properties are VERY different from wood. If you are looking for a japanese watercolor style print, you just about have to use wood.
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Unsu...
Re: block printing?
Tue, July 27, 2004 - 4:05 PMI just tried this myself! I bought a small block (Linoleum mounted on wood) some knives, ink, roller, paper. The result, though imperfect, is my main tribe photo. I'm working on more now. More detailed. It's really fun. -
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Unsu...
Re: block printing?
Wed, July 28, 2004 - 11:05 AMDoes anyone hae any good book recommendations for block printing? I have no idea how to properly do a multi-color piece. Do you make multiple blocks? How do you get them to line up right? Is it generally lightest ink first black last? -
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Re: block printing?
Thu, September 23, 2004 - 5:26 PMtry tapeing one edge of the paper you are printing on so it can be folded back. mark wher the blocks go so they can be placed in the same position every time. i would work from lightest to darkest.
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Re: block printing?
Wed, September 22, 2004 - 6:57 PMyeah, i print at a studio called ink clan in somarts. the woman who runs the place is great and teaches classes and there are open studios. she's got a great press that makes incredible prints. both linocuts and monoprints... check it out. your art is great.
