The tools and materials I use as a new relief printer focused on linocut! The brands and models I use are based on my personal preferences/budget and their availability in the U.S. There are way fancier options and way more affordable/DIY options out there. I choose my tools and materials based on the following criteria:
- Will I need to replace it after a few uses?
- Can I maintain it myself? How difficult is it to do so?
- Is there a more eco-friendly option available?
- Does my local art supply store carry it? Does my local print studio have it?
- If I stop using it, does it have value to be donated to my local print studio or another local artist?
Note
Amazon links to items I recommend are affiliate links. If you purchase from these links, I may receive a small commission. I encourage shopping your local, independent art supply store first! Other online shops include Jackson’s Art, Takach Press, Jerry’s Artarama, and McClain’s.
| Name | Weight | Size | $/sheet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strathmore 300 newsprint | 32T (120 gsm) | 9x12" | $0.16 |
| French Paper Kraft-Tone | 100C (270 gsm) | 8.5x11" | $0.38 |
| French Paper Speckletone | 80C (215 gsm) | 8.5x11" | $0.33 |
| French Paper Pop-Tone | 65C (175 gsm) | 8.5x11" | $0.26 |
| Neenah Astrobrights | 60T (90 gsm) | 8.5x11" | $0.04 |
All papers listed are acid-free.
It’s not a common relief printing choice, but I love French Paper. They make gorgeous papers in the Great Lakes region with renewable power.
Price per sheet is based on the minimum purchasable quantity, usually 50 sheets. I don’t have unlimited space to store paper in cheaper bulk quanitties.
- Battleship gray linoleum
- This is the only type of biodegradable lino — you can compost your remnants!
- Also called “silk cut” linoleum in other parts of the world. It’s not silk though.
- I avoid the beige and pink “Easy Cut”/“Speedy Carve“ style blocks. Battleship gray is firmer and, thus, easier for me to work with; I don’t feel like I’m fighting against the block to hold detail. Easy Cut blocks are great to play with because they’re cheap, soft, and double-sided. They just don’t work for my style.
| Size | Type | Model | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1mm | Shallow Sweep Gouge | FR800 #9 (Micro) | Flexcut |
| 1.5mm | U Gouge | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 1.5mm | V Gouge | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 2mm | Shallow U Gouge | MT24 (Micro) | Flexcut |
| 3mm | U Gouge | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 6mm | U Gouge | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 6mm | V Gouge | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 7.5mm | Skew Chisel | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 7.5mm | Flat Chisel | Mikisyo Power Grip | |
| 14mm | Sweep Gouge | FR401 #5 | Flexcut |
I got most of my Power Grip tools from this 5-piece kit ($23) at <$5 per knife, though, admittedly, I don’t reach for the chisels much.
I advocate for folks using the tools they want to, but I can’t recommend the the popular Speedball beginner cutter set ($15). The 5-piece Power Grip kit costs about $8 more for a much better value: it’s more comfortable in your hand and you can sharpen the blades.
My favorite cutting tools are the Flexcut ones. I’m interested in trying Pfeil, but I have no need to spend that type of money right now.
I use a Flexcut Slipstrop to sharpen my blades after every few hours of use.
Still looking for my favorite. Currently switching between the Speedball metal bench hook/ink tray and Essdee wooden 30x20cm bench hook. I think I’ll eventually need to make my own to work with blocks up to 10x10".
Oil-based ink that washes off with soap and water instead of requiring messy cleanup (like traditional oil-based inks). The downside: dry time takes days instead of minutes.
- Process Blue (Cyan)
- Process Red (Magenta)
- Process Yellow
- Black
- Opaque White
- Extender (Transparent base modifier, add to your ink for translucency)
- Printmakers Wax Drier (Drying modifier, add to your ink to dry faster)
Blick via Amazon has set of 4 the process colors + white + the extender in smaller 75mL sizes for about $6 cheaper than buying each tube individually.
Water-based ink that cleans up with just water. These are affordable and readily-available beginner inks. The downside: They can dry too quickly and do not produce consistent results. I like the tiny 37 mL tubes so I can test out colors cheaply from my local supply store or through Blick. Seasoned printmakers hate this stuff, but I don’t mind it at all to make something quick and not-so-dirty.
- Acrylic glass board (12x24")
- You could use thrifted picture frame glass/acrylic or other plexiglass/perspex… but I prefer a big, sturdy surface because I’m messy!
- 6" Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer
- 4" Speedball Pop-In Soft Rubber Brayer
- 2" Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer
- 1.5" Speedball Deluxe Soft Rubber Brayer
- Speedball Red Baron baren for handprinting
- Woodzilla A4 press as a modern tabletop press
- Blue carbon transfer paper (8.5x11") to transfer mirrored art to lino, $0.04/sheet
- Strathmore 300 tracing paper (9x12"), $0.16/sheet
- There are cheaper options, but this one is fairly heavy (25lb text, 41 gsm) with good translucency and it won’t tear/wrinkle at the slightest tug. Not acid-free, but I don’t care for this purpose.
- I use a Brother black-and-white laser printer/scanner for all my home printing needs (mostly to transfer to lino blocks). The exact model I have is discontinued, so check the Wirecutter pick for the current equivalent. I bought mine refurbished in 2016 and it’s still one of my fav purchases ever to this day in 2024. I recommend checking Amazon for “renewed” models; they’re hard to come across used irl because they’re so reliable.
- Dollar store soft sponges and medium bristle scrub brush
- Dish soap to clean ink off hands, inking slab, blocks, and brayers
- Crisco/cheap veggie oil or Simple Green to scrub any more stubborn ink off tools and hands