Creating Linocut Prints is a rewarding art form, but before committing to your final piece, making a test print is a crucial step. While it might seem like an extra task, taking the time for a test print is an investment that saves you valuable time and materials in the long run, especially when working with quality printmaking paper. This guide will walk you through the process of making a test print, ensuring your linocut prints are as perfect as you envision.
Before you begin inking, remove any tape securing your linoleum block to your work surface. Gently clear away any loose linoleum scraps from the carved block. A soft brush or a dry cloth can be helpful for this. With your block clean and free of debris, you’re ready to prepare your ink for the test print.
The inking process starts on a clean, non-porous surface like a glass or plexiglass slab. Ensure your slab is dust-free for optimal ink consistency. For a design around 8×6 inches, a dollop of ink about an inch long should suffice. Adjust the ink quantity depending on the size of your linocut block; larger blocks will naturally require more ink. Learning to gauge the right amount of ink is refined with practice.
Take your roller, also known as a brayer, and begin to distribute the ink. Use short, even strokes, initially focusing on a limited area of the slab, around a 5-8 inch square. This prevents the ink from spreading too thinly and drying out prematurely. Continue rolling until the ink achieves a smooth, uniform consistency with a slightly textured, stippled appearance. This even distribution is key to ensuring consistent ink transfer to your linocut block. You can experiment with rolling in one direction or back and forth to find your preferred technique. The goal is a smooth, even ink surface.
Once your ink is smoothly rolled out on the slab, it’s time to ink your linocut block. Roll the brayer across the inked slab and then apply it to your carved block. Repeat this rolling motion, moving back and forth across the block, ensuring even ink coverage. Continue until the block is uniformly coated with a dark, smooth layer of ink, and the linoleum surface is no longer visible beneath the ink. Depending on the block’s size, this may take between 10 to 25 passes with the brayer. Experience will help you determine when your block has the ideal ink coverage for printing – highlighting the value of this test print stage.
With your block inked, take your chosen test paper – newsprint or inexpensive paper works well for this step. Carefully place the paper onto the inked block, ensuring you lay it down smoothly without shifting or sliding once it makes contact. Gently press down with your fingers to ensure initial adhesion across the surface. Next, take a piece of wax paper, slightly larger than your block, and place it over the test paper.
Now, using a burnishing tool – a wooden spoon, a squeegee, or a specialized burnisher – apply firm, even pressure over the wax paper. Rub methodically across the entire block-paper-wax paper “sandwich”. This pressure transfers the ink from the block to the paper. The burnishing time varies based on print size and paper type, ranging from a minute to ten minutes. For a test print of this size, around two minutes of even burnishing should be sufficient.
Set the wax paper aside – it can be reused for future prints. Gently rub the back of the test print with your fingers, particularly over areas with fine details. This additional pressure can help ensure ink pickup in delicate areas. With thinner test paper, you might be able to faintly see the image through the back. Carefully lift a corner of the paper and begin to peel it away from the block. You should feel a slight resistance as the ink releases. Continue peeling slowly and steadily until the print is fully separated from the block. Lay your test print ink-side up to dry and examine your first linocut print!
Congratulations, you’ve made a test linocut print! This step is invaluable for assessing your carving work, ink application, and overall print quality before moving to your final, more precious printmaking paper.
Tip: Remember that inked paper becomes 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 damaging your newly created linocut print. Analyzing your test print will guide you in making any necessary adjustments to your block or inking technique before producing your final linocut prints.
