Blog - Relief Printmaking

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  • Testing the Differences Between Lino Blocks

    Testing the Differences Between Lino Blocks

    Here at Handprinted we are always getting asked to explain the difference between all the lino relief blocks available. It can be very confusing knowing whether to choose traditional lino or try an alternative such as Softcut or Vinyl. To help you decide on the right material for you, we’ve tested five different blocks in … "
  • Printing Wrapping Paper for Christmas!

    Printing Wrapping Paper for Christmas!

    Printing your own wrapping paper is an easy way to add a personal touch to presents. We know you’re all really busy this time of year so we’ve got four quick ways of creating lovely wrapping papers. Why not get children involved too? Thermofax Printing Start with a black pen drawing or image. Have a …
  • Printing with Chine Collé

    Printing with Chine Collé

    Chine Collé is a technique that allows you to add colour to your prints without making another block. Using Chine Collé you are able to print on much finer, more delicate papers which are bonded onto a more sturdy paper during the printing process. Japanese papers are often used but you can try tissue papers, …
  • Printing with Block Printing Medium and acrylic paint

    Printing with Block Printing Medium and acrylic paint

    Block Printing Medium transforms acrylic paints into usable block printing inks. Simply mix the medium with your paints and roll onto your block! Here’s how: Mix your Block Printing Medium with acrylic paint in a ratio of 3:2. If you want to print in a specific colour, mix your acrylic colour first and …
  • Fabric Printing with Vegetables!

    Fabric Printing with Vegetables!

    This project is a quick and easy way to get stuck into printing. It’s brilliant for children and just as good for grown-ups too! If you’re stuck in a rut with your printmaking, try this quick project to reignite your imagination and get those creative (vegetable) juices flowing. Raid the fridge for a selection of …
  • Relief Printmaking with Japanese Vinyl

    Relief Printmaking with Japanese Vinyl

    As soon as we received our first batch of printmaking vinyl we were keen to start gouging into it. This vinyl cuts beautifully and smoothly and can achieve very fine detail. There is a blue side and a green side, both of which can be used for carving. The centre of the vinyl is black …
  • Perfect Fabric Prints with Indian Wooden Blocks

    Perfect Fabric Prints with Indian Wooden Blocks

    Indian Blocks come in a wide variety of designs perfect for printing onto fabric and paper. It can be a bit tricky to achieve an even, bold print on fabric so here’s our method of printing with these blocks! Handprinted Fabric Paints are perfect for printing these blocks onto fabric. We’ve scooped out a little …
  • Transferring an Image onto Lino

    Transferring an Image onto Lino

    This week we wanted to test a technique for transferring an image onto lino using a printed image and an iron. It worked surprisingly well and was very quick and easy. Here’s how we did it: Your image needs to be printed either through a laser printer or a photocopier (inkjet printers will not work). …
  • Registering a Print with Ternes Burton Pins

    Registering a Print with Ternes Burton Pins

    We wanted to show you a really simple example of how to use the Turns Burton pins and tabs and how they can be used to register block prints with effortless accuracy. We’ve whipped up a quick reduction print and a multi-block to …
  • How to Block Print with Lino onto Fabric

    How to Block Print with Lino onto Fabric

    We get a lot of questions about the best way to lino print onto fabric. Which ink should I use? Should I use a roller? Will it be washable? Will it change the handle of the fabric? These are all questions to which we wanted to know the answers – not just for all of …
  • Printing Fabric with Square Lino

    Printing Fabric with Square Lino

    Printing onto fabric is one of our specialties here at Handprinted. We like to come up with easy ways in which fabric can be printed in a small space at home with minimal mess and equipment. One such way we have been playing with recently is printing using a square piece of lino. From …
  • Printing with Esdee PrintFoam onto Paper and Fabric

    Printing with Esdee PrintFoam onto Paper and Fabric

    Safeprint is a thin piece of polystyrene block that is a quick and easy way of making a relief print. You don’t need lino tools to carve it, just a pencil! For this reason, it’s brilliant to use with children and in schools. If you haven’t tried it before, give it a go – it’s …
  • Block Printing a Two Colour Repeat Pattern

    Block Printing a Two Colour Repeat Pattern

    This is an easy method for two colour block printing on fabric that doesn’t require a computer at all so grab your pencil case and have a go: ...
  • Block Printed Chair

    Block Printed Chair

    If you’re a lover of relief printing (or would like to be) but squeezing little prints through a press isn’t your thing, here’s an idea for block printing that’s a little different: We recently got hold of a couple of lovely old chairs that were in need of a little TLC. We’re using a piece …
  • Colour Blending with Versacraft and Mastercut

    Colour Blending with Versacraft and Mastercut

    There is so much that you can do with Versacraft Ink Pads. You can use them to print on paper, shrink plastic, polymer clay, wood, porcelain, leather and fabric. Our latest project for these versatile ink pads is colour blending. Here’s how we used Mastercut andVersacraft to make a printed tea towel: Start by drawing …
  • Block Printed Tote Bag for Making Magazine

    Block Printed Tote Bag for Making Magazine

    We have another feature in this month’s Making Magazine! You can find it on pages 9 – 11 of the July 2015 issue. We used MasterCut to carve two blocks and printed them with Versacraft Ink Pads onto fabric. The fabric was then made into a beautiful tote bag by Emma Herian! You can find …
  • Reduction Linocut

    Reduction Linocut

    The reduction lino cut is a method of block printing in which each colour layer is taken from the same block. More lino is removed from the block for each layer and each colour is printed on top of the last. This means that an entire edition must be printed in one go – once...
  • Beginning Printmaking – Books We Love

    Beginning Printmaking – Books We Love

    We are often asked for recommendations on books to get started on various methods of printmaking. Here is a round up of our favourites for anyone thinking about learning how to print at home.  Fresh Prints by Cristine Leech. 25 projects to make at home. Suitable for complete beginners. Good pics and clear instructions. Mostly …
  • Block Printing onto Fabric with Permaset Aqua and Speedy Carve

    Block Printing onto Fabric with Permaset Aqua and Speedy Carve

    It can be difficult to find the right inks for block printing onto fabric, especially if you haven’t got a few days to wait for it to dry. We have loved screen printing with Permaset Aqua Textile Inks, so we wanted to try block printing with them too! You will need: Permaset Aqua Textile Ink …
  • Printing Postcards onto Ply!

    Printing Postcards onto Ply!

    Our Japanese Ply is also perfect for posting – thin and light enough to be classed as a standard letter by Royal Mail. Who wouldn’t want to receive this hardwearing postcard? This method of printing can also be used for paper and is a great low-cost press that will give you surprisingly good, consistent results. …