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Gamblin Relief Ink |
In inking your woodblock panel, you will need the following
equipment:
Oil based ink, such as Gamblin Relief Ink
Glass inking slab. When ordering the glass,
request that the edges are polished. This prevents accidentally cutting yourself on any sharp edges.
Brayer (roller)
Inking knife
For Clean Up:
Mineral spirits
Cloth shop rags
Paper towels
Nitrile gloves
After mixing the ink, use your inking knife to apply a small bead of
ink to the glass inking slab. The next step is to roll your brayer back and
forth, gradually spreading the ink to create a thin layer on the surface of the
glass. Make sure that before you use your brayer that it is clean of any
residue.
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| Inking knives are available in a variety of widths. When inking a woodblock or woodcut, you only need to apply a very small amount of ink to the inking slab. |
Brayers are available in different durometer or hardness. For inking woodcuts, many people prefer a softer
brayer with a durometer of 20 to 25. The softer surface, in the opinion of
some, is more reliable in depositing ink onto wood surfaces which may have a
pronounced grain or texture.
If you have achieved the right consistency, the ink that you have rolled
out on the inking slab, will have a uniform shine with no dull spots or marks
on the surface. In spreading the ink, also note the sound that the brayer makes
as it rolls over the inked glass surface. If you have properly spread the ink, you will
hear a very subtle sound. On the other hand, if you hear a crackling sound, the
ink is likely too thick. Thick ink can
cause printing problems, because the excess will fill in the fine lines cut
into the woodblock and you will lose some of the detail in your print.
After rolling the ink to the right consistency, use the brayer to carefully
apply the ink to the surface of the wood panel. Coat the surface of the
woodblock, rolling the brayer in the direction of the grain. When first applying
ink, the wood will absorb some of it. So on the first application of ink, you should
recoat the surface a second time.
As you are coating the wood with ink, pay close attention to the
surface, inspecting it for any stray wood chips. Carefully remove these chips
as necessary using either tweezers or the point of a sewing needle.
After doing that, you should pull a test print. After inspecting the
print, make any needed corrections in cutting the woodblock. To
pull a good print, the ink must uniformly coat the entire surface of the
woodblock with a thin layer. After inking the woodcut, you are good to go.
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| The materials used for the rolling cylinder of the brayer can vary in hardness. The hardness of the material is measured as its durometer. The hardness or durometer of brayers used for woodblock and linocut printing typically ranges from a soft material at about 20 or 25, to a hard surface of 60. |
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Checklist for Relief Printing with Oil Based Ink
Japanese Carving Tools for Woodblock Relief Printing
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Selecting a Brayer for Relief Printing
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Selecting an Ink for Relief Printing
Inking the Woodblock Panel
Clean Up After Relief Printing
About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.
Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer. Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.
Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for publications, such as Signs Canada, SignCraft, Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 400 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published. Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon.
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