It is used to rub the back of the paper which is placed face down on the inked up woodblock, to print the image. This can be done by hand with a baren – a flat round disc with a handle. To print a woodblock, pressure is required to transfer the image from the wood to the paper. Cranfield Traditional Relief Inks come in a range of sizes and 62 colours. Follow this with a glass washer or multi-purpose spray if the surface is still greasy. You can clean up without harsh solvents, by using vegetable oil and newspaper or a rag, then a plant-based solvent like Zest-it or gamsol. Oil based inks have an enduring popularity within the printmaking community, and their rich, smooth colour still make them the choice of many printmakers. Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks are one such range of water washable oil based inks that are good for printing at home or at the studio. This makes them easier to use if you print at home or wish to avoid harsh solvents. These oil based inks are just as colour rich and buttery as any other, but will clean up with soap and water, without any need for solvents such as white spirit or turpentine. Schminke aqua linoprint is artist quality ink which comes in three sizes and a wide variety of colours. They are very easy to clean up, and tend to dry quickly, so are a good choice for younger printers or those printing at home. Water based inks use natural binders such as gum Arabic, and are water soluble. There are three main categories based on the binder that is used with the pigment. Inks for woodcut printmaking are known as relief printing inks, and they are designed to roll out evenly and print without the ink sticking to the block which would result in an uneven print. Schmincke Aqua Linoprint Ink 20 ml Set Of 5 Flexcut are another excellent quality option and are available in a range of sets, from micro for fine detail to wide for clearing areas and larger work.Ĭranfield Traditional Relief Ink 500 g Cool YellowĬranfield Traditional Relief Ink 75 ml : Light Green 1/8 which refers to the curvature and the width of the blade in mm. Their mushroom shaped handles are designed to fit into the palm of your hand. Pfeil make a range of tools suitable for both linocut and woodcut in various sizes, individually and in sets. V-Straight Parting Chisel 6 mm.Investing in more expensive carving tools can be cost effective in the long run, as good quality tools can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Those sizes are described using the blade type and width in mm – e.g. There are also sets of 8, 10 and 12 that will provide more choice of tool sizes. The different blade types create different marks in the wood – from the V shaped tool for detailed lines to the large U shaped tool for clear areas around your design. The basic Jacksons woodcut set contains five knives in different sizes, with sturdy wooden handles which are easy to grip. A simple, inexpensive set of woodcutting tools is a good way to start. Good, sharp tools will minimise the risk of them slipping across the surface. Japanese Woodcarving Tool, Set Of 5 With Sharpening StoneĮssdee Lino Carving Tool Set, Handle With 5 Blades Although designed for Mokuhanga they can also be used with water and oil based ink.įlexcut Micro Palm Carving Tool Set, Set Of 4 It is excellent quality and is great for finer detailed carving. The Japanese Katsura block is 13 mm thick, and can be carved on both sides. Magnolia is softer and smoother than plywood, which makes it better for printing large areas of colour. The Jackson’s Japanese Magnolia block is 10 mm thick and can be carved on both sides, which is great when you are still experimenting. It is 9 mm thick so will not split or weaken as it is carved p roviding you cut into it at a standard depth of around 2-3 mm, and is available in five sizes, ranging from 106 x 145 mm to 605 x 915 mm. The wood used in Jackson’s Baltic Birch plywood is dense and fine grained, which allows it to be cut into cleanly and evenly providing you’re using sharp tools.

There are a variety of woods to choose from, and blocks are specially prepared for woodcut printmaking to ensure even and consistent printing.

Japanese Magnolia 10 mm Side Grain Wood Block Jackson’s Baltic Birch 9 mm Plywood Wood Block

Moku hanga bench