Sweep or vacuum the floor to avoid the inadvertent transfer of dust or fibres onto your lino or paper. Consistent Pressure: When tracing, apply consistent pressure to make sure all parts of your design are transferred evenly. Missing or faint lines can lead to errors during carving. You control the tool by the angle you hold it at. Holding it at a steeper angle makes the cutting edge go deeper. Holding it at a shallow angle brings the cutting edge up. With practice you should be able to carve a continuous line by finding the right angle. If you keep slipping, lift the handle slightly to make a steeper angle. Ink Consistency: The perfect ink for lino printing should have a certain tactile texture. It’s worth noting that printer’s ink is significantly denser than the likes of fountain pen ink. Differently shaped linocut blades obviously produce different types of cut in the lino. Sacrifice a piece of lino to try the various blades, to begin to get a feel for what you can do with each. Try straight lines and curved, short and long, little stabs, jerking the tool sideways as you cut. Close-together lines (hatched) and lines going across one another (cross-hatching).

If you can spend the money, this boxed set has everything you will ever need. Want to save a bit of money? I’d recommend purchasing a few specific individual cutters instead. Which shape blades you prefer is definitely a matter of personal preference. Each is designed to give a different style of cut, from narrow and deep to broad and shallow. Introductory lino sets usually include a few blades, but if you're buying them separately remember that (with patience) you'll be able to cut away a large area with a narrow blade but not easily make thin cuts with a broad one. The Lino-Printing Process: Once you've cut your design into the piece of lino (creating the printing plate), you spread a thin layer of ink evenly across the lino (inking up), lay a sheet of paper over it, and apply pressure to transfer the ink to the paper (printing).

There’s no doubt that Pfeil linocut tools are pricey, but they’re more than worth it for professional artists who do relief carvings. Research and Inspiration: Before starting, spend some time looking at existing lino prints. This can provide inspiration, give you a sense of different styles, and help you understand what works well in this medium. Mask the Cut Areas: If there’s unwanted ink in the carved sections, design a mask for those areas using thin paper, ideally around 80gsm or lighter.

Before embarking on a lino printing project, ensuring that your workspace is clean, organised, and free from dust and debris is paramount. A well-prepared space not only promotes efficiency and precision but also ensures that your prints remain pristine and unblemished. Below are key steps to adequately prepare your work area for lino printing: Simplification: Especially for beginners, intricate details can be challenging to carve. Consider simplifying certain aspects of your design to make the carving process smoother. Lino Quality: Always invest in good quality lino. Cheaper alternatives may crumble or be inconsistent in texture, making them difficult to carve.

When test printing a design, it is common to use very thin paper such as newsprint. For printing a final piece, it is up to the artist to decide the paper texture and weight that they'd like to print with. If you are creating an edition of prints to sell, it is customary to use a smooth paper of a high quality. These papers are available as single sheets in A2 and A1 sizes in store at Hobbycraft. High-Quality Tools: Quality tools, such as professional-grade carving tools and brayers, can prevent many beginner issues.