This Is Why Your Lino Prints Are Blotchy

Lino cut offers beautiful, handcrafted designs having high decorative value. They are used as greeting cards, framed wall hangings, and showpieces. Block printing is a form of artist’s expression entwining creativity and technique at its best, but many times you may wonder how lino prints come out blotchy.

Lino prints turn blotchy because of the quality and quantity of ink, residue on the ink roller, the positioning of fabric or paper – and if it is good paper or not- used for lino printing, foreign particles on a lino block, and the temperature (whether it is a water based ink oil based ink), among several other factors. It would be best if you considered these factors to get a fine print. 

The article will discuss the process of lino printing, factors that lead to a blotchy print, and tips to improve the overall quality of your prints. Please notice that this is more of a description of the traditional lino printing process, rather than the traditional woodwork printing, whilst we write towards answering This Is Why Your Lino Prints Are Blotchy.

Lino Printing: An Artists’ Expression

Lino printing is similar to woodblock printing, where the printing block is made of linoleum rather than wood. Linoleum is a soft, rubbery material made primarily of linseed oil and pine resin. It is workable with carving tools, and you can create patterns and print them on paper, just like a rubber stamp.

A linoleum block or sheet is carved so that its uncut portions depict the mirror image of the artwork to be printed. The cutting process is done with several tools like a knife, gouge, and chisel.

The pattern is drawn over a lino sheet or transferred by other means. Then the lino sheet is carved out, forming the mirror image of the pattern on it. Ink is applied on the lino surface with a roller, and the paper is carefully put over it. The paper-linocut is passed through a roller press, and the ink pattern is transferred on the paper. This image can have a lot of small detail if you develop your skills even further.

There are several advantages of lino printing. Since lino is easily workable as compared to wood, fine designs can be made through lino printing. The linocuts are easily storable and have a good shelf life. The overall cost of lino printing is lesser than traditional woodblock printing. The result of lino printing is smoother and eye-catching as compared to wood printing.

Like any other art form, there are pitfalls in lino printing as well. Many a time, the lino prints come out blotchy. It takes years of experience to become a master lino printer. Furthermore, there are known causes and solutions to blotchy prints. Read on to know more.

Reasons Why Your Lino Print Is Blotchy

There could be several reasons why a lino print turns out blotchy. We list below a few of them here:

Jute or hemp fiber on the lino block

Your lino block may be mounted on a wooden piece with a hemp or jute base between the wood and the lino material. In such a case, occasionally loose jute fiber may fall on the lino printing surface or from the edges, spoiling the final print.

The only way to get around the problem is to closely look at the lino print surface and remove these loose strands. Use a fine pair of scissors to cut away these fiber portions or pluck them with a couple of tweezers.

Uneven pressure while printing

If you are not using a roller press to apply even pressure on the linocut–paper arrangement, you may be applying uneven pressure while printing. This causes uneven ink distribution on the paper leading to blotchy prints. You must take care while applying pressure on the paper and ensuring that the pressure is evenly distributed throughout the lino block.

The best way to apply even pressure is to use a roller press. This ensures that all surfaces are evenly pressed, and the ink gets transferred uniformly. If you are applying pressure by hand, ensure that you systematically apply the same amount of force on all portions of the linocut.

Applying an uneven amount of ink on the lino block

If you apply uneven amounts of ink on the linocut, you will get prints with unequal ink distribution. The result will be similar to the condition when you apply uneven pressure while printing. Hence ensure that you put an even amount of paint on the linocut.

The best way to do so is by using a roller brush. First, take the paint on a palette and rub it using a paint knife to even out any lumps and get a fine paste—then use a roller brush to absorb even amounts of paint on its surface. Then gently roll the brush over the linocut with a firm hand.

At times, in cold weather, the paint may get dense. If required, heat it a little to get the right consistency. On the other hand, the paint may flow more than usual in warm conditions. Put the paint tube in the freezer for a few minutes to get the right texture.

Using the right kind of ink 

Inks come in various formulations: water-based and oil-based. It is better to use oil-based inks as they do not dry quickly, allowing you to continue printing for a longer duration. Also, they provide a better finish than water-based ink, which can smudge easily.

Using the right type of paper

For lino printing, use fine paper for best results. A poor-quality paper may lead to bloated or smudged prints. After printing, ensure that you give enough time for the paper to dry.

Placing and lifting the paper

If the paper is not placed carefully over the lino and it shifts over it, it is possible to get a smudged print or double print. Hence it is essential to place and lift the paper carefully over an inked lino. Here are the steps:

1. Align one corner of the paper edge with one corner of the linocut. 
2. Slowly, place one edge of the paper on the corresponding edge of the linocut. 
3. Gently place the rest of the paper over the lino block from one side to the other side.
4. For lifting the paper, gently peel it from one edge to the diagonally opposite edge with a slow, firm movement. 

Lino residue on a freshly cut lino sheet

A freshly cut lino sheet may have small lino particles attached to it. These small pieces can give a nasty finishing to the print. Ensure that you remove all unwanted pieces from the lino surface. Hold it in bright light and look for any residue. Brush away any foreign particles before you start using the block.

Uneven roller brush surface

The roller brush used to apply ink on lino may have an uneven surface. Use a good quality brush having a smooth, firm surface. Always clean the brush after use and store it in a proper place.   

Final Words

We understood that linocut printing could go wrong because of several reasons. Several other factors affect the final quality of the print, starting from the lino block to residue material on the brush and lino sheet. Ink, its quality, the paper used for printing, and even temperature play a crucial role in lino printing.

Lino printing is a beautiful art form that provides masterpieces for art lovers. We hope that our collection of tips will help you get better quality prints and further your creativity to limitless bounds.

Sources

• Wild Flowering Art: Printing Lino Cut: Some Common Problem
• Wet Canvas: Linocut printing color problems
• Hand Printed: Printing a solid lino block with a barren
• Artists and Illustrators: 10 top tips for linocut printmaking
• Boarding all rows: Linoleum reduction prints