How to Use Vinyl Tiles for Printmaking
The Chinese were the inventors of printing. Early prints for books were made from wood blocks, which were blocks carved in reverse relief. Today, one technique that mimics this process is known as linocut printing. Linocut uses wood-cutting tools to carve a reverse image into a vinyl tile. The tile can then be used to create many different prints. Printmakers often prefer linocut printing to wood-block printing because the tile is easier to cut than a block of wood.
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Things You'll Need
- Sandpaper
- Paper
- Graphite pencil
- Linoleum knife set
- Ink brayer
- Water-based printing ink
- Glass pane
- Printing paper
- Book
Instructions
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1
Sand the surface of your vinyl tile to remove the waterproof coating. This ensures that ink sticks to the tile when you make your print.
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2
Sketch a drawing onto a sheet of paper that is the same size as the vinyl tile with a graphite pencil. This drawing will be your eventual print.
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3
Turn the print over and place the sketch side against the vinyl tile. Trace your original drawing on the exposed side of the paper. The pencil markings on the other side of the paper will be transferred onto the tile.
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4
Remove the paper and set it aside. Using a linoleum knife set, carve away the surface of the tile anywhere there is no graphite.
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5
Squeeze some ink onto a piece of glass. Roll an ink brayer back and forth through this to distribute the ink over the brayer evenly.
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6
Roll ink over the surface of the tile with the ink brayer.
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Place the tile carved-side down against a piece of paper. Place a heavy object like a book over the tile.
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Remove the book and the tile. Allow the ink to dry on the print.
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Tips & Warnings
For the clearest print, design your drawing with bold, broad patterns. Avoid making lots of tiny lines that will not hold ink or transfer to paper well.
References
- Photo Credit large knife image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
