Block printing is the relief process of printing onto fabric or paper using a hand-cut block,
made of wood or linoleum. After the block has been carved, ink is applied, and then it is printed.
Hence, the name block printing. It's a technique that has been around for more than two thousand
years.
Block print water-based colours are suitable for all types of block, lino and potato printing onto
a Wide range of materials. When printing onto paper and card try to use the thickest stock you can
as this will prevent any rippling of the sheets due to the water in the inks.
Apply the inks with either a sponge or roller and make sure you have an even cost over the whole
printing area, this will give the best result and stop the print from looking patchy and uneven.
Printed inks should be touch dry in 5-15 mins so multi-layer prints can be printed on the same
Day. Once the inks are fully dry, they have a long light fastness and are non-yellowing allowing
you to enjoy your works for many years.
When printing onto fabric eg: cotton again this will air dry in about 15-25mins again allowing
Many layers of colour to be used in one day. Once you have completed your work and have allowed the
inks to dry, you can iron fix the inks to the cotton using the highest heat setting
With no steam and iron for 2-5 mins to full fix the inks, this will allow you to be able to wash
And use this finished work for many years. We do recommend you do some trials with fabric that has
been printed, dried, and ironed so you can familiarize yourself with what works with the iron and
way you are working. Washing at 40 degrees should be suitable.
Once completed your blocks, lino and accessories can easily be cleaned with soap and water.
Remember to put the lids back on the inks once you have decanted out what you need so not to let
the inks dry out and become thick. If they do start to become too thick add a small amount of water
to them and either shake if you have a bottle or stir well if you have a tub.
All inks mix well together to create many colour shades, we also have a pearl base and a silver
and solar gold to enhance your prints as well. All these are inter-mixable with each other.