BLOCKPRINTING
INTRO Block printing is one of the oldest types of printing. Block printing can be done with many materials such as metal, plastic, rubber and even potato but this example will focus on using wood. An image is carved into the wood leaving raised areas, which are then inked up with a roller. The inked surface is then transferred to the material you want to print onto by applying pressure. The sunken areas are left uninked which reveals the colour of the paper. Block printing is typically done by hand; this produces a bold print, with the ink leaving a slight raised texture to the paper.
TOOLS
MATERIALS
-Cutting Tools -Bench Hook -Roller -Palette Knife -Spoon
-Oil based ink -Wood -Material you want to print onto

The first step is to sketch your design on to the wood. This will form the template for your printing block. For more complicated designs, you can trace an image using tracing paper. Place the drawing face side down and rub the back to transfer the image to the wood. If you are going to use text you will need to reverse it to allow it to print the right way round. A good tip is to fill in the areas you dont want to print with a marker pen to help when carving.

The wood is ready to be carved. Use the bench hook to hold the wood and carve out the parts you do not want to be printed. Always remember to cut away from yourself when carving to avoid an accident. Once you have finished carving, make sure any excess chippings are removed so they don’t affect the print.
PRINTING G N I T N I R P

To prepare the ink, use a palette knife to spread the ink onto a glass surface in a straight line. With a roller, dip it in the ink and roll out an even layer until the ink has a tacky quality to it. Once the roller is evenly coated, carefully roll it onto the wood block. Do it once in each direction to make sure the raised areas of your design are evenly covered. The quickest method of printing is to press the block onto paper by hand, making sure you apply an even amount of pressure. 
Another way is by spoon. Put the wood block ink side up on a flat surface and lay the paper over the top. Rub the back of the sheet with the spoon evenly to transfer the image onto the paper. This method requires some patience but can produce a really nice finish. Once you have finished, carefully peel back the paper and leave to dry.
PULL-OUT