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Relief Printing: Which Ink?
From Block to Print: Finding Your Ideal Ink
When it comes to printmaking, the ink you choose can completely transform your results. Whether you’re carving a lino block, etching a metal plate, or pulling vibrant screen prints, each process demands its own specialist ink. From the rich consistency of etching inks to the tacky texture of relief inks and the smooth flow of screen printing colours, understanding their differences is key to achieving crisp lines, bold colours, and lasting impressions. In this post, we’ll explore the qualities of each type and help you find the perfect ink for your next printmaking project.
Which Ink? Relief Printing
Relief printing is ever popular in schools and workshops and we’ve done our best to make it accessible to everyone with our huge range of lino, lino cutting tools and inking rollers. We also offer QuickPrint, wood blocks and stamps. It’s important to use the right ink; these special Block Printing Inks are slightly tacky in their nature, so when they’re applied to the carved block with a roller, they will stick to the smooth, raised surface without flowing into the carved lines. This ensures a crisply defined, dense and even print.
Use the table below to help you choose the best ink for your project.
Which Ink? Etching
Etching inks need to be a certain consistency for them to be coaxed into etched lines. Equally, they then have to be wiped off areas which do not require printing. The best inks for this task are oil-based, but note that some are easier to clean up than others. Choose the right ink from the list below to suit all levels of ability; zinc, acrylic and dry paint. There are many options available on our website to allow etching to be taugh in schools, colleges and print workshops with confidence, and not all require the use of harsh chemicals or solvents.
Use the table below to help you choose the best ink for your project.
Which Ink? Screen Printing
Screen printing is a great way of producing multiple prints and provides a good understanding of the four colour printing process used in industry. Screen printing was primarily designed to be used for precision work so that printing could be done with accuracy. This is still the case today but as the number of ways to create a stencil has grown, more user friendly processes have become available, so it need not be avoided by those who may fear a more technical way of printing. We offer a wide variety of tools and equipments along with many different types of inks for paper and textiles with a range of qualities to suit everyones budget.
Use the table below to find the type of ink you are looking for.
