Ink
Brayer
Slab
Put a “dab” of
ink on the slab.
Use the brayer to spread the ink
uniformly over the slab.
Start at the top of the slab and roll
to the bottom.
Lift up the brayer and bring it back
to the top.
Roll it down again
until the ink is just right.
Do this as long as it takes to spread out the ink.
Keep up this circular motion
(top bottom lift top bottom lift…)
so the ink is spread evenly on the brayer as well as the slab.
.
It’s important to get just the right
amount of ink. Keep adding “dabs” of
ink until you have it right.
The right amount of ink makes a
crackling sound and has a furry
texture.
This is not enough ink. It is flat rather
than furry and you can see through it.
This is too much ink.
It has lines.
This is called “ropey” ink.
Always fix ropey ink.
To fix ropey ink,
hold the roller,
then drag the extra ink
to the top of the slab.
Leave the line of ink at the top of the slab. Use this ink
when you start to run out of ink instead of adding another
“dab” of ink from the tube.
Transfer the perfectly prepared ink
from the slab to your linoleum block.
Keep applying ink until the entire surface is coated with
with one color of ink. The ink should crackle.
You shouldn’t be able to see through the ink. The ink
shouldn’t be ropey. This is called a base coat.
This is the texture of a good base coat.
Once you have a good base coat, you
can add as many colors as you want.
When you use other colors, some of
the inks are going to mix on the brayer
and the slab.
Don’t worry about the colors mixing.
Only add ink if the ink is running out.

Lino print process

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Put a “dab”of ink on the slab.
  • 3.
    Use the brayerto spread the ink uniformly over the slab.
  • 4.
    Start at thetop of the slab and roll to the bottom.
  • 5.
    Lift up thebrayer and bring it back to the top.
  • 6.
    Roll it downagain until the ink is just right.
  • 7.
    Do this aslong as it takes to spread out the ink. Keep up this circular motion (top bottom lift top bottom lift…) so the ink is spread evenly on the brayer as well as the slab.
  • 24.
  • 28.
    It’s important toget just the right amount of ink. Keep adding “dabs” of ink until you have it right.
  • 29.
    The right amountof ink makes a crackling sound and has a furry texture.
  • 30.
    This is notenough ink. It is flat rather than furry and you can see through it.
  • 31.
    This is toomuch ink. It has lines. This is called “ropey” ink. Always fix ropey ink.
  • 32.
    To fix ropeyink, hold the roller, then drag the extra ink to the top of the slab.
  • 35.
    Leave the lineof ink at the top of the slab. Use this ink when you start to run out of ink instead of adding another “dab” of ink from the tube.
  • 36.
    Transfer the perfectlyprepared ink from the slab to your linoleum block.
  • 37.
    Keep applying inkuntil the entire surface is coated with with one color of ink. The ink should crackle. You shouldn’t be able to see through the ink. The ink shouldn’t be ropey. This is called a base coat.
  • 38.
    This is thetexture of a good base coat.
  • 39.
    Once you havea good base coat, you can add as many colors as you want.
  • 40.
    When you useother colors, some of the inks are going to mix on the brayer and the slab.
  • 41.
    Don’t worry aboutthe colors mixing. Only add ink if the ink is running out.