F.A.Q.s: Printmaking

• What basic supplies do I need to start printing? Can I print without a press?
  
• Should I use oil-based or acrylic printing inks?
  
• What paper works best for printmaking?
  

Q: What basic supplies do I need to start printing? Can I print without a press?
A: Relief, monoprint and silkscreen printing do not require a press, although relief printing is quicker with the benefit of a press. Monoprint (where the image is drawn on plexiglas and a single print is pulled) and relief (woodblock and linoleum) prints can be hand-burnished with a nylon or bamboo baren; select thin papers for best results. Wood or lino locks can be carved with just a few simple hand tools; other supplies should include some acrylic or oil-based ink and a brayer and glass palette to roll on ink.
Silkscreen printing can be done at home with very basic equipment. The stencil can be hand-cut or painted out with varnish or, if proper lights are available for exposing the screen, photosensitive emulsion can be used. Silkscreen supplies are available in several starter kits that contain everything required to begin printing at home.

Q: Should I use oil-based or acrylic printing inks?
A: Oil-based inks work much better for monoprints and intaglio. The slow rate of drying allows careful manipulation and a long open time, but solvents are required for cleanup. Acrylic-based inks are great for relief printing; their fast rate of drying is good for small studios with limited room for drying fresh prints, and they clean up with water. Back to Top.

Q: What paper works best for printmaking?
A: The choice of paper depends on the printing process and whether a press will be used or prints are to be hand burnished. Relief printing with a press works well on papers with hard surfaces that can bear the tack of the ink; thin sheets like Asian mulberry paper works better for hand-pulled prints, but thicker sheets produce an attractive indentation when put through a press. Intaglio requires soft papers with less sizing for sensitivity and absorbency to produce soft, delicate tones and shades. Silkscreen papers should have hard, smooth surfaces for flat application with crisp edges. Lithography will accommodate a wide variety of papers, but the extreme pressure involved in printing will crush flat most textured papers. Utrecht 100% rag American Masters Print Paper (Item No: 19150) is a multi-purpose surface for all processes; it's inexpensive enough for proofing with archival permanence suitable for final editions. Back to Top.

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