Lino printing is a form of relief print that has been in use since the early 20th century. It traditionally involves carving a pattern or design into hard linoleum (hence the name Lino printing), but now you can find a few different types of soft cut alternatives like rubber or the Artway blue soft cut polymer. 

It's super easy to try this technique out at home, just follow our step by step instruction below. 

Equipment 

• Cutting Surface - You can use either the Artway Traditional Linseed Lino or the Artway Soft Cut Polymer.

- Artway Traditional Linseed Lino - A grey sheet with hessian backing. A firmer surface which enables more controlled cutting to product finer detail. Soften before cutting - place on a radiator (or other suitable heat source) for a couple of minutes. Apply further heat as necessary

- Blue Soft-Cut Polymer - Soft Cut polymer for easy carving and application. An ideal entry level relief printing surface - no heat required

• Artway Inking Tray -  to contain the ink for rolling out
• Artway Brayer Roller -  for applying ink to surfaces
• Lino Cutters
• Paper - try Artway Flat White Multi-Arte 250gsm recycled paper 

The Artway Printmaking kit contains everything you would need for this technique plus more!

Process

TIP - cut down the lino/polymer sheets into smaller sizes so you can produce more than one design - you could even use a piece to try out the cutters to see what type of marks they make.

• Decide on a design - the first rule is to remember that your lino print will be the reverse image of what you draw, so beginners start with something simple and bold - nothing too detailed - this can come later

• Transfer to your printing sheet - apply your design directly to the lino/polymer surface using a soft pencil (greater clarity is achieved using a marker pen to strengthen lines) or, if accuracy is needed, then use tracing paper to transfer the image

TIP - shade or block out those areas of your image which you wish to keep - this helps to see the negative/positive areas of your work and how they will appear once printed

REMEMBER - Designs appear as a mirror image once printed

• Start carving! - cut away the negative space of your drawing (the bits you don’t want to print) by making shallow cuts. Lino/woodcutters are very sharp, so always cut away FROM YOU taking it slow and steady. There’s no rush!

• Know where your fingers are - there’s a natural tendency to support the lino/polymer at the furthest edge in the direction you’re cutting. For safety purposes always hold and secure the surface at the point closest to you and direct cuts in an outward direction. If your budget allows using a ‘bench hook’ makes this operation much easier and safer

• Get ready to ink! - once you’ve finished carving your design clear away any debris and begin inking

TIP - in preparation for making prints always work on a flat surface that has been suitably prepared and protected - likewise wear old clothing or an apron as printing can be a messy business

• Add a small amount of ink to your inking tray - don’t use too much ink as you’ll over saturate your sheet and the print may smudge. Roll out the ink with the brayer roller making sure that the cylinder on the roller is evenly coated

• Ink the lino/polymer sheet - roll a thin and even layer of ink across your lino/polymer sheet, applying it across the whole surface area in smooth even strokes

• Make a print - gently and carefully place a sheet of paper over the inked design. Upon placing the paper DON’T be tempted to move it as this will result in ink off-set and smudged results

• Transfer the design - using the baren apply pressure to the back of the paper working from the middle outwards in a circular motion

• Peel away the paper - pick up a corner of the paper and in one smooth motion peel away from the design taking care not to smudge or drag it as you go

• Leave to dry - place face up somewhere safe and flat

• Re-ink and repeat

TIP - experimentation is the name of the game - how much ink to apply, how much to roll out, the amount of pressure required, ink drying times etc. these all come with experience. With this in mind use scrap/test sheets to gauge results before using better quality/more suitable/more expensive papers (such as the ARTWAY Flat White Multi-Arte paper supplied)

Most importantly have fun!

Mastered lino printing, why don't you try out other relief printing techniques. You can follow along with our instructions on monoprinting or how to make a collagraph.