Lino Printing: A Beginner’s Guide to Materials
Popular with fine art painters, crafters, hobbyists and, well... everyone... Lino printing is an easy-to-learn & difficult-to-master technique that perfectly combines simplicity with creative freedom.
At their simplest, linocut printing techniques involve carefully carving a design into an appropriate material (don’t worry, we’ll get there) & using specialised inks (again) to apply the pattern onto paper or fabric by hand or with a press for bold, infinitely repeatable patterns.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll be visiting our Printmaking Materials to discover different lino printing surfaces, highlight some of the best lino printing tools around & discuss the difference between water-based and oil-based printing inks.
So, join us & begin your lino printing journey with confidence!
Lino Printing Surfaces: Lino, SoftCut, MasterCut & PrintFoam
Choosing the right surface is the first step to successful lino printing.
From traditional hessian-backed linoleum to child-safe PrintFoam, each block printing surface offers unique qualities tailored to different skill levels and projects.
Whether you’re creating detailed linocut prints, experimenting with custom stamp carving, or introducing children to block printing, understanding the strengths of each material will help you achieve bold, consistent results every time.
Traditional Printmaker's Lino
Often the material of choice amongst experienced printmakers, these blocks of hessian-backed linoleum are tough, hardwearing & likely the first image in anyone’s head when they think “lino printing”, making them ideal for a variety of linocut printing techniques.
Suitable for use with both water-based and oil-based inks, they’re made using natural ingredients like linseed oil & wood flour for a range of reliable, eco-friendly carving blocks that offer crisp, consistent printing results.
Essdee SoftCut
Perfect for beginner lino techniques, Essdee SoftCut is a high-quality block printing material designed as a softer, easier-to-carve alternative to traditional lino that provides professional-quality results.
Able to hold detail beautifully for sharp, consistent prints, the smooth, creamy surface of EasyCut is suitable for a variety of lino printing tools and can even be marked with a soft pencil.
Available in several sizes, Seawhite offer a similar range of specially formulated Easy Cut lino blocks that can be marked directly using a pencil or marker, easily hold a fine line & print consistent, sharp results.
Essdee MasterCut
The versatile MasterCut range from Essdee is a carving material with an eraser-like consistency ideal for traditional linocut printing techniques, along with a variety of artisan printmaking techniques.
Suitable for beginners & more advanced lino printing techniques thanks to it’s lightweight, easy-to-carve surface, MasterCut delivers clean, consistent impressions in either water-based or oil-based inks.
Essdee PrintFoam
PrintFoam is a fun, child-friendly & easy-to-carve material from Essdee that provides an incredibly safe introduction to lino printing techniques for younger artists.
Perfect for exploring printmaking without the need for sharp tools, each 10mm lightweight foam sheet has an extremely soft consistency able to be marked or indented easily with pointed (or blunt) objects & produces crisp, clear prints.
Able to be quickly washed and recoloured for repeated use, PrintFoam is versatile enough for use in model making projects and can be cut to a variety of unique shapes & sizes using a craft knife.
Lino Printing Rollers: Keep Your Work Running Smoothly
When it comes to the best lino printing tools available, rollers (or brayers) are must-haves in any printmakers collection.
Essential for almost all linocut printing techniques, these iconic tools are coated with a hardwearing rubber surface that’s specially designed for moving both water-based & oil-based inks easily.
Completely waterproof for simple cleaning, each roller features a core of either aluminium or plastic that rotates on self-lubricating bearings, which is then securely mounted atop an ergonomically designed handle made from plastic, metal or wood.
Essdee Standard Ink Rollers
- Available in 4 sizes
- 70 shore EDPM rubber
- Lightweight aluminium cores
- Self-lubricating nylon bearings
- Steel supported polypropylene handles
Essdee Fabric Ink Roller
- 75mm Wide Roller
- 40 shore EDPM soft rubber
- Lightweight aluminium core
- Self-lubricating nylon bearings
- Steel supported polypropylene handle
ABIG Standard Ink Rollers
- Available in 3 sizes
- 58 shore hard rubber
- Waterproof aluminium cores
- Smooth running polyamide bearings
- Nickel-plated frames
- Natural beechwood handles
ABIG Simple Ink Rollers
- Available in 3 sizes
- 58 shore hard rubber
- Waterproof aluminium cores
- Smooth running polyamide bearings
- Lightweight nickel-plated wire handles
Lino Printing Cutters: Keeping Your Prints Sharp
Designed for carving detailed designs into linoleum & a variety of other printmaking materials, lino cutters are typically made using precision-ground, high-carbon steel for a durable tool that remains sharp, even through extensive use.
Suitable for various linocut printing techniques, lino cutters are available in a variety of shapes and sizes that are interchangeable whilst you work for easy-to-achieve clean lines, fine details or bold textures in your lino printing projects.
ABIG Cutters & Blades
ABIG Cutters feature a traditionally designed, natural beechwood handle with an in-built “blade remover”, allowing you to easily (and safely) eject the blade for straightforward swapping or storage.
Available in several different varieties for a range of linocut printing techniques, their 0.6mm thick blades are hand sharpened & made using hardened steel.
Essdee Cutters & Blades
Esdee Cutters feature lightweight, ergonomically designed polypropylene handles with an easy-to-use rotating aluminium ferrule for quick, simple blade swapping.
One of the things that makes Essdee Cutters amongst the best lino printing tools is their unique, multifunctional design.
When not in use, these versatile tools attach to a separate component that not only acts as a convenient storage option for your blades, but functions as a small, handheld baren that glides effortlessly over your work.
Lino Printing Inks: Water-Based vs Oil-Based
When it comes to printing inks, one of the toughest decisions every printmaker will face is; “Water-based or Oil-based?".
The question of water-based vs oil-based lino inks can be difficult as each range offers unique, specific properties that can affect everything from drying times, to print quality & even usability.
We’ve provided a short breakdown of water-based & oil-based options below, to help you find just the right ink for your lino printing projects.
Water-Based Printing Inks
Popular for their smooth applications, vibrancy & versatility, water-based printing inks like Essdee's Premium, Schmincke's Linoldruck or the System3 Acrylic Printing Inks from Daler-Rowney offer an impressive variety of bold, intermixable colours.
Designed for shared workspaces or classrooms, water-based inks are made using a non-toxic, low odour formula for a quick-drying range ideal for producing multiple prints in quick succession.
Often less durable or lightfast than their oil-based counterparts, they don’t bond well with textiles (unless specially formulated) and require quick work as they can potentially dry on the lino block itself, leading to uneven results.
Water-Based Fabric Printing Inks
Developed for use with fabrics & textiles, these unique water-based inks make it easier than ever to design your own clothes, accessories, home furnishings & more!
Fabric printing inks offer the same benefits as all water-based inks, including ease-of-use & short drying times, but have been specially formulated to adhere to a variety of fabrics and textiles.
Best paired with the appropriate roller, the fabric ink ranges from Essdee and Daler-Rowney deliver bold, vivid prints that are soft to the touch & permanent, washable up to 40°c after being heat set.
Oil-Based Printing Inks
Oil-based lino printing inks like the renowned Caligo Safe Wash Relief Ink range from Cranfield are popular for long-lasting fine art prints thanks to their depth, opacity & lightfastness.
These versatile inks offer consistent coverage with crisp details on a variety of surfaces including paper, card or fabric. Drying slower than their water-based brethren, they allow for more methodical & detailed prints with an archival-quality finish that doesn’t fade easily.
Unlike water-based inks, a solvent or mineral spirit is required to clean your equipment after use, necessitating a larger, more open workspace & proper ventilation.
Lino Printing Mediums: Producing Your Very Own Inks
Are you looking for just the right colour, shade or hue, but can’t seem to find it anywhere? We’ve all been there.
Designed to convert standard water or oil-based paints to block printing inks, the following mediums allow anyone to craft their very own range of unique, specialist colours, offering truly limitless creative potential in your work.
Adigraf Acrylic Medium
This user-friendly medium from Daler-Rowney easily transforms standard acrylic paints like their own System3 range or Senellier's Abstract colours into water-based block or lino printing inks.
Specially designed to retain the vibrancy of the paint for impressively bold colours, each solvent-free ink dries quickly to a smooth, professional quality finish on various surfaces including paper, card, canvas or wood.
Adigraf Oil Medium
From Daler-Rowney, this easy-to-use medium converts traditional oil paints like their own Georgian Oils, or the Winton range from Winsor & Newton into richly pigmented, oil-based block or lino printing inks.
Suitable for both opaque & transparent hues, this specially designed medium achieves the optimal ink consistency whilst preserving the original colour intensity for oil-based inks that dry slowly to a professional, lightfast finish on a variety of surfaces.
Lino Printing FAQ: The Long & Short Of It
We regularly receive questions about a variety of the materials we offer from students, artists, hobbyists & the just plain curious. In this section, we've done our best to answer several of the most popular of these questions.
"What tools do I need to start lino printing?"
Basic must-haves for newcomers would include some form of carving material, suitable tools (specifically cutters & rollers) & at least one ink.
When it comes to lino or carving materials, there are a variety of options offering tailored experiences like Traditional Lino, SoftCut etc, so it's best to consider how tough you want your carvings. For cutters, we would suggest having a small assortment of different blades to hand, so you can experience the true depth & versatility of lino printing as an artform.
Available in a range of options, rollers (or brayers) are more open to interpretation, with the choice being largely personal. Unless you're working with fabrics or textiles, it's more about finding a width and design to your own liking that lets you work unencumbered. Similarly, when it comes to finding the right printing ink, newcomers often prefer water-based inks as they’re quick & easy to clean, whilst more advanced printmakers may lean towards oil-based inks for their long-lasting results.
"What ink is best for lino printing?"
This answer depends on what you’re looking to achieve in your work, as both water-based and oil-based inks offer unique benefits in lino printing techniques.
Ideal for beginners & younger artists just discovering lino printing techniques for the first time, water-based inks like Essdee's Premium or Schmincke's Linoldruck ranges offer a non-toxic, low odour range of quick drying colours able to be cleaned without the need for solvents, making them suitable for smaller shared workspaces, school projects and more.
On the other hand, oil-based options like Cranfield's Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks offer certain advantages often preferred by more experienced printmakers. Beyond their depth of colour & opacity, their slow drying nature allows for more methodical techniques, providing time for incredibly intricate prints that dry to richly coloured archival-quality prints with excellent lightfastness & durability.
"Can you do lino printing on fabric?"
Absolutely, so long as you’re using (or making) the right ink and roller!
As discussed earlier, the versatile fabric printing inks from Essdee & Daler-Rowney are specifically designed to deliver bold, vivid prints on a variety of textiles. Available in a variety of colours, these permanent inks are soft to the touch & washable up to 40°c after being heat set.
Alternatively, you could find any colour you'd like amongst our vast selection of Oil Paints & pair it with the Adigraf Oil Medium to produce your very own custom, oil-based printing inks.
And don't forget, as fabric inks are marginally thinner than standard, they're best paired with the specially developed soft rubber of the Essdee Fabric Ink Roller.
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Lino Printing: The Final Word
Accessible, inspiring and versatile... lino printing is one of the most rewarding printmaking techniques, offering endless opportunities for creativity & expressive freedom, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist. Simply by choosing the right tools, inks, and materials, anyone can create bold, lasting prints on paper, card, or fabric.
If you're still curious, click here to explore our full range of printmaking materials & start your own lino printing journey today!
