Soft Cut Block Printing
Learn about positive and negative space, relief printing, carving techniques, breyers and ink, and leave with a finished block plate and the knowledge to make more at home!
Wouldn’t your family and friends be impressed if they all received handmade cards this holiday? When you carve a soft cut block, you are able to print many copies very quickly, better than store bought cards any day!
Unlike linoleum plates, the soft cut is easy on the hands. Different sized blades mean that you can create tight tiny lines for texture or thick lines for weight and depth. We’ll discuss ways to transfer your image, create patterns, types of ink, using a “baren” to evenly press the paper into the ink, and share ideas about how to print sustainably and limit the amount of paint that makes its way into our groundwater.
Participants will be making 4×5 inch plates, suitable for a quarter sheet card. Feel free to bring your own images, however, they need to be printed and carved in reverse so that the images will print properly.