Embarking on a Lino Printing project is exciting, and it’s tempting to dive straight into creating your final masterpiece. However, seasoned printmakers know a crucial step that can save you time, frustration, and precious materials: the test print. Understanding the importance of a test print is fundamental to achieving high-quality lino prints.
Making a test print might feel like an extra step, but trust us, it’s an invaluable part of the lino print process. Think of it as a practice run, a sneak peek, and a problem-solving opportunity all rolled into one. It primarily serves two key purposes:
- Carving Refinement: It acts as a visual checkpoint to assess your linoleum carving. A test print reveals areas that might need further carving or adjustments, ensuring your design translates perfectly from block to paper.
- Material Conservation: Avoid wasting expensive printmaking paper, especially premium options like Japanese Kitakata paper, by perfecting your technique on less costly paper first.
In the long run, investing in a test print is an investment in efficiency and economy. Let’s walk through the process of creating a test print for your lino print project.
First, if you’ve used tape to secure your design or protect areas of your block, carefully peel it off. Gently remove any loose linoleum scraps or debris from the carved block. A soft brush or a gentle wipe with your hand will do the trick. Ensuring your block is clean is essential for a crisp and clear lino print.
With your block prepped, it’s time to prepare your lino print ink. You’ll need a smooth, non-porous surface like a glass or plexiglass sheet. Make sure it’s clean and free of dust or particles that could contaminate your ink. For a design around 8×6 inches, a dollop of ink approximately an inch long should suffice. Squeeze the ink directly onto your clean glass surface. Don’t worry about your glass being perfectly pristine – as you can see, a working surface is just fine. Adjust the ink quantity based on the size of your lino print block; larger blocks will naturally require more ink. Learning to gauge the right amount of ink is a skill that develops with practice.
Alt text: Dollop of black lino print ink squeezed onto a clean glass surface, ready for rolling.
Now, take your roller, also known as a brayer, and begin to spread the ink. Use short, firm strokes, initially moving in one or two directions within a limited area of the glass – about a 5-8 inch square is a good starting point. This prevents the ink from spreading too thin too quickly and drying out prematurely. Continue rolling the ink until it achieves a smooth, even consistency with a slightly stippled texture. This even distribution is key to ensuring consistent ink transfer to your lino print block. You can experiment with rolling forwards and backwards, or just in one direction, to find the technique that feels most comfortable and effective for you. Remember, there’s no single ‘right’ way – it’s about finding what works best for your style and materials in lino printing.
Once your ink is smoothly rolled out on the glass, begin transferring it to your carved lino print block. Roll the brayer through the ink on the glass, and then apply it to the surface of your block. Repeat this rolling motion back and forth, ensuring you cover the entire carved area. Continue until the block is evenly coated with a smooth, dark layer of ink, and the linoleum surface is no longer visible beneath the ink. Depending on the size of your block, this might take between 10 to 25 passes with the brayer. Again, with experience, you’ll develop an eye for judging when your block is adequately inked for printing – emphasizing the value of these test prints!
Alt text: Applying black lino print ink to a carved linoleum block using a hand brayer, ensuring even coverage for test printing.
With your block inked and ready, grab your test paper. Plain printer paper or newsprint works perfectly for test prints. Carefully lay the paper onto the inked block, taking care to position it accurately and avoid any wiggling once it makes contact. Gently press down evenly with your fingers to ensure the paper adheres to the inked surface. Next, take a piece of wax paper slightly larger than your block and place it on top of the test paper. The wax paper acts as a barrier and allows your burnishing tool to glide smoothly.
Now, take your burnishing tool. This could be a specialized burnisher, the back of a wooden spoon, or even a squeegee. Rub firmly and evenly across the wax paper, applying pressure to transfer the ink from the block to the test paper beneath. Ensure you cover the entire area of the block with consistent pressure. The time needed for burnishing depends on the size of your lino print and the type of paper used, ranging from a minute to ten minutes. For a test print of this size, about two minutes of burnishing should be sufficient.
Alt text: Burnishing the back of test print paper on an inked lino block using a wooden spoon to transfer ink.
After burnishing, set the wax paper aside – it’s reusable for future prints, so don’t discard it. Gently rub the back of the test paper with your fingers, particularly focusing on areas with fine details that might need extra pressure to pick up the ink. If you’re using printer paper, you should be able to faintly see the lino print image through the back of the paper. Now, carefully take a corner of the paper and slowly peel it away from the block. You should feel a slight resistance as the paper detaches from the inked block. Once the print is completely separated, lay it ink-side up to dry.
Congratulations! You’ve just created your first lino print test print! Examine your test print closely. Are there areas where the ink is uneven? Are there lines that didn’t print clearly? This is your chance to identify any necessary adjustments to your carving or inking technique before moving on to your final lino print.
Quick Tip:
Remember that inked paper becomes more delicate and prone to tearing due to moisture absorption. Handle your test print with care, especially when rubbing the back after removing the wax paper, to avoid accidentally damaging your newly created lino print. Use your test print wisely to refine your block and inking process, and you’ll be well on your way to producing stunning lino prints every time.
