Lino Printing, a form of block printing, is a wonderfully accessible and creative art form. Whether you’re a seasoned printmaker or just starting your journey, the process involves carving a design into a linoleum block, inking its surface, and transferring that image onto paper. Before committing to your final piece, creating a test print is an absolutely crucial step that can save you time, materials, and a whole lot of frustration. This guide will walk you through why test prints are essential and how to make one effectively, ensuring your lino printing projects are successful and satisfying.
Why Test Prints are Essential in Lino Printing
Making a test print might seem like an extra, unnecessary step, especially when you’re eager to see your finished artwork. However, in the world of lino printing, this preliminary print serves two vital purposes that significantly contribute to the quality and efficiency of your printmaking process.
Saving Time and Resources
Think of a test print as a trial run – a chance to identify and rectify any issues before you use your precious materials and time on a final print. High-quality printmaking paper, like Japanese Kitakata paper mentioned in many lino printing tutorials, can be costly. By using inexpensive paper for your test print, you avoid the potential waste of these premium materials if your block needs further adjustments. Furthermore, discovering mistakes early on prevents you from investing more time in printing a flawed design multiple times. A few minutes spent on a test print can save you hours of rework and material costs in the long run.
Refining Your Carving
The act of carving is central to lino printing, and it’s not always easy to visualize how your carved block will translate into a printed image. A test print acts as a mirror, reflecting your carving efforts and highlighting areas that might need further attention. It allows you to assess the depth and consistency of your carving. Are there areas that are too shallow and might pick up ink unintentionally? Are there details that are not as defined as you envisioned? By examining your test print, you gain a clear visual representation of your block’s readiness for the final print. You can then go back to your block with this new understanding, refine your carving, and ensure that your final print accurately reflects your artistic vision.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Lino Print Test
Now that you understand the importance of test prints, let’s delve into the practical steps of creating one. This process is straightforward and will quickly become an indispensable part of your lino printing routine.
Prepare Your Block
After you’ve finished carving your linoleum block and are ready to see the first glimpse of your design, the initial step is to remove any tape you might have used to protect areas or transfer your design. Carefully peel off the tape, ensuring you don’t damage any delicate carved areas. Once the tape is removed, thoroughly clean your block. Use your fingers or a soft brush to gently remove any loose linoleum scraps or debris that might have accumulated during the carving process. A clean block ensures a clean and accurate test print.
Inking Your Block
The inking process is crucial for a successful print, and it begins on a smooth, non-porous surface like a glass or plexiglass slab. Ensure your slab is clean and free of dust or particles that could contaminate your ink. Squeeze a dollop of your chosen printmaking ink onto the clean surface. The amount of ink needed depends on the size of your block. For a medium-sized design, a roughly 1-inch dollop of ink is a good starting point. You’ll develop a better sense of ink quantity with practice.
Next, take your brayer – a rubber roller used for printmaking – and begin to distribute the ink. Roll the brayer in short, even strokes in one direction or back and forth within a limited area of the slab, about a 5-8 inch square. This prevents the ink from spreading too thinly or drying out prematurely. Continue rolling until the ink achieves a smooth, even consistency with a slightly stippled texture. This texture indicates that the ink is properly prepared and ready for application to your block. The key is evenness – ensuring there are no thick or thin patches in your ink.
Once your ink is evenly distributed on the slab, begin transferring it to your linoleum block. Roll the inked brayer across the slab and then onto your carved block. Repeat this rolling motion back and forth, ensuring you cover the entire surface of your block with ink. Continue this process until the block is evenly coated with a smooth, dark layer of ink, and the linoleum surface is no longer visible underneath. The number of rolls needed can vary depending on the size of your block and the type of ink, but typically, 10-25 rolls should suffice. Practice will help you determine the ideal ink coverage for your prints.
Transferring Ink to Paper
With your block inked, it’s time to make the test print. Take a sheet of inexpensive test paper – printer paper or newsprint works well. Gently place the paper onto the inked block, being careful not to shift or wiggle it once it makes contact. Smoothly lay the paper onto the block surface.
Next, place a piece of wax paper, slightly larger than your block, over the test paper. The wax paper acts as a barrier, preventing the ink from sticking to your burnishing tool and ensuring smooth pressure distribution. Take your burnishing tool – this could be a wooden spoon, the back of a spoon, a specialized burnishing tool, or even a squeegee – and begin to apply pressure. Rub firmly and evenly across the wax paper, covering the entire area of the block underneath. Consistent pressure is key to transferring the ink effectively from the block to the paper. The time required for burnishing depends on the size of your print and the type of paper but can range from 1 to 10 minutes. For a test print, 2 minutes is often sufficient.
Revealing Your Test Print
After burnishing, carefully set aside the wax paper – it can be reused for future prints, so don’t discard it. Gently rub the back of the test paper with your fingers, especially over areas with fine details. This additional pressure can help ensure good ink transfer in detailed sections. If you are using thinner test paper, you might be able to faintly see the printed image through the back of the paper.
Now comes the exciting moment of reveal! Taking hold of a corner of the test paper, slowly and gently peel it away from the linoleum block. You should feel a slight resistance as the paper separates from the inked block. Once the print is completely removed, lay it ink-side up to dry.
Congratulations! You have successfully made your lino print test!
Tips for a Successful Test Print
- Handle with Care: Inked paper, especially thinner test paper, becomes more delicate and prone to tearing due to moisture absorption from the ink. Be extra gentle when handling your test print, particularly during the peeling and drying stages. Avoid excessive rubbing after removing the wax paper to prevent punctures or tears.
- Analyze Your Print: Once your test print is dry, examine it critically. Look for areas where the ink coverage is uneven, where lines might be too thick or thin, or where your carving might need further refinement. Use a pencil to mark areas on the test print that require adjustments on your block.
- Iterate and Refine: Based on your analysis of the test print, go back to your linoleum block and make the necessary adjustments to your carving. Don’t be afraid to make changes – that’s the beauty of test printing! After refining your block, repeat the test print process until you are satisfied with the results.
Embrace the Test Print
Making a test print is not just an extra step; it’s an integral part of the lino printing process. It’s your opportunity to preview, refine, and perfect your artwork before committing to the final print. By embracing test prints, you’ll not only save resources and avoid frustration but also elevate the quality of your lino prints, achieving professional and satisfying results every time. So, make test prints a standard practice in your lino printing journey and watch your skills and the quality of your prints flourish.
