Pic.01
What is Linocut Printmaking?
Linocut (known) as a lino print/lino printing/ linoleum art) is a PRINTMAKING technique, a slightly different form of WOODCUT in which LINOLEUM sheet is used. Linoleum is generally diced/ curve, much easier to cut than wood.
The linoleum sheet has two types, one is a simple sheet itself (Pic.02) another one is mounted on a wooden block (Pic. 03) both easily available online or in an art store. The board and linoleum sheet available with different thicknesses of levels. Linoleum surface used for curving/cutting and to create a Relief design (Pic..01) with the help of a sharp knife.
Pic.02. without wood board
 |
Pic.03.with wood board |
The knife is available in two different variations.
2) Modern knife that comes with a wooden or plastic (Pic.05,06) handle with interchangeable gouges. In this type of knife, there is a blades slot into the hole at the base of the handle, and the wooden stick is used to push the blade out for changing or storage and which is very convenient and it comes with different gouges, Small 'V' gouge, Large 'V' gouge, Small 'U' gouge, Large 'U' gouge, knife.
With the help of these gouges, we carve those areas on the linoleum sheet where we want to show no ink or where we want to leave the area white on the paper. On the other hand, we left those areas uncarved (raised) where we want the ink on the paper (printed area). After that, the linoleum sheet is inked with a roller (called a brayer) and then impressed onto a paper or fabric. The actual printing can be done by hand or with a printing press.
 |
| Pic.04 Classic Knife |
 |
| Pic.05 Cutter with wooden hand |
 |
| Pic.06 Cutter with Plastic storage handle |
What is Block Print?
Block printing is the process of printing in which we engraved a design or a pattern on the wooden block or a linoleum sheet to print a pattern or design on the fabric or paper.
A Linocut Printmaking Process/ tutorial/ step by step Introduction (How to develop your print, DIY?
STEP 1: Material/Tools you will need for the First Step
One sheet of linoleum, size 8' x 10' inchLino cutting tool with an assortment of bladesPen, Pencil, Ruler, Tracing sheet.
 |
Pic.07 Tools / Material STEP 2: Drawing a Pattern or Illustration on Tracing SheetStart drawing your Pattern Design or Illustration (this could be anything you want, this is up to you,) on the tracing sheet (take the similar size 8'x 10') as shown in Pic.08. Mark margin of 1' inch outside border, which will give it a nice clean look after printing. Tip: Draw lines to help you to compose the layout and scale.  Pic.08 Drawing on Tracing Sheet STEP 3: Tracing the Drawing on the Linoleum Sheet |
After tracing the drawing on the tracing sheet, it is the time to trace the pattern from the tracing sheet to the linoleum sheet. You can completely skip step 2, if you are good at freehand drawing, by creating the Pattern/drawing directly onto the linoleum sheet (pic.9.2). Remember the drawing should be in a reflective image because it reflects a mirror image of the drawing when printed on a paper or a piece of fabric (typeface in the pic. 09.1 is a reflective image).
In this step, think about the negative and positive space, which means the area you want to show to be white or not inked (positive space) and the areas you want to be inked (negative space) when printed on the paper or fabric. Tip: Use a black marker or a sketch pen to mark the inked area or uncurved area (black marked area as shown in Pic.09.1), which will make it easier to curve the area on the linoleum.
Pic.09.1 Tracing on linoleum sheet
Pic.09.2 Drawing directly on linoleum sheet
STEP4: Curving or Cutting on the Linoleum Sheet
Now it is time to start the Curving Process but before you start it please be careful while using tools they are very sharp and easy slips on the linoleum sheet. Don't put your hands or fingers in front of the tool while using it instead of trying to hold the linoleum sheet with the other hand.
Starts curving or cutting the negative space or the area you wanted to show white or without ink on the paper or fabric.
Use small V gouge for the small outline, fine details, tight curves, sharp edges, narrow cuts curving (Pic.10)
Use Large V gouge for deep and larger width lines curving
Use U gouge to curve the small area and fine details
Use U gouge to curve the larger area and curves
Use a knife flat gouge to cut the huge area
Pic.10.Used small V gouge for the outline
Watch from Step 1 to Step 4 tutorial video 👇
STEP 5: The Printing Process
Material/Tools you will need for the Second Step
Handmade sheet or Cartridge Paper, Baren, Brayer/ Roller, Glass/ Acrylic Sheet, Ink, Double side tape, Curved Linoleum sheet
After Curving Process, prepare the ink for the printing process.
Take out two large drops of ink on the glass sheet/ Acrylic sheet. Begin rolling the ink on it with the help of brayer or roller. Roll it until the ink is smooth and textured. (pic. 13)
Next step, Set the linoleum sheet fixed in one place.
Use a double-sided tape to fix the linoleum sheet. Put a piece of the double-sided tape (3 inches) on the back of the sheet and around the four sides (Pic.14) So that the linoleum sheet will stay fixed and not slip on while applying the ink or when we are printing a print.
Applying the ink to the linoleum sheet
After that, start applying the ink to the linoleum sheet with the Brayer/roller. (Pic.15).
keep applying it until the desired area fully covered with the ink or the ink is evenly distributed. (Pic. 16)
Pic.15 Linoleum sheet Inked well
Placed 2-inch paper strip around the corner of the linoleum sheet
for the registration mark.
What is the registration mark and why we should place it?
Registration marks are placed on the printing plates to position the paper correctly for printing. They are essential for producing multiple printing at the same spot/ place/ area. The accuracy remarkably depends on these marks.
Pic.16 2 inches Paper strips for registration mark
Now place a handmade sheet/ Cartridge sheet onto the lino sheet, where you want the print to be print.
Use a Baren or a flat surface object to transferring the ink from the lino sheet on the paper, press and move Baren in a circular motion. The pressure should be through the whole of your hand. Keep moving Baren in a circular motion until whole ink transfer onto the paper from the linoleum sheet. (Pic. 17)
write down the print number, Date, Title of the Print in the middle, and your signature bottom of the print
No comments:
Post a Comment