- 1). Ink the woodblock. Use a brush to apply an even coating of ink to the woodblock. Ensure the ink fills the incisions of the image so the lines will print clearly. When the woodblock is fully covered in ink, use a sponge to carefully wipe away the excess ink on the woodblock, but not the ink in the incisions.
- 2). Use the water spritzer to dampen the paper. Choose a porous paper that is thick and will not tear when damp. Spray the paper evenly and lightly with water until it becomes limp and would droop if you were to pick it up.
- 3). Place the woodblock on the press, inked side up; lay the dampened paper on top. Close the press onto the paper and apply heavy pressure to the printing press. The water in the paper will draw the ink in the woodblock towards the surface of the block and the image will print onto the page. Keep the pressure on the printing press for about a minute, then open the press.
- 4). Hang the printed image on a drying rack, such as an indoor clothesline or a cooling rack used in baking. Repeat the printing process on a new piece of paper, or re-ink the woodblock with other colored inks and repeat the printing on the existing sheet while it is still damp. Re-inking with other colors will produce interesting backgrounds or depth to your image.
SHARE
