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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nI have wanted to try linocut printing for years. Last year, I bought the necessary equipment, but I haven’t gotten around to trying it out. Now I decided to take the bull by the horns and give it a shot. Traditionally, the print pattern is engraved into a linoleum plate, but nowadays there are softer, so-called softcut plates available for beginners, which are easier to engrave. I bought a few real linoleum plates and one softcut plate so that I could try both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time, I only had time to try one of them, so I decided to start with the softer sheet recommended for beginners. I chose a Christmas-themed pattern, sketched it onto the board with a pencil, and began engraving. Some instructions recommend painting the board beforehand. While engraving this first board, I quickly realized why that would be a good idea. The sheet is the same color throughout, and if the surface is colored, it is easier to see where you have already carved and where you still need to be engraved. Tiny details in particular stand out better on a different colored surface. Softcut is also white, which doesn’t really give you much contrast and it’s very difficult to see the where you have already carved. It is also worth carefully plan whether you want the pattern to be negative or positive, as this affects whether you engrave around and behind the pattern or engrave the pattern itself. No ink will be applied to the areas to be engraved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Engraving is quite an addictive actually, a bit like putting together a reverse jigsaw puzzle. The work is easier if you have several engraving blades of different sizes. Large areas to engrave are easier to handle if you have a larger blade. And, of course, small details are easier to do with a small blade. The printing itself is a bit messy and requires care. The more you smooth out the color with the roller, both on the in k tray before applying it to the plate and on the plate itself, the better the end result will be. It is also a good idea to clean the roller, the ink tray, and the plate thoroughly before printing, as dust, dirt and engraving waste on the printing plate will directly affect the print result. When printing, I also noticed that if the pattern does not extend to the edges of the tile, the print is more likely to smudge around the pattern itself. I don’t mind this as such, as it gives the final result a handmade look. If you want to avoid extra ink marks, it is a good idea to design a pattern with as little background to engrave as possible, a pattern that continues to the edges of the plate, or to cut the plate along the pattern so that there is hardly any extra empty background on the plate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was really fun, and I definitely plan to try it again later. Next time, I might try using real linoleum. I had reserved 30g Japanese paper for printing, but it was a little too thin for my taste. Of course, it works if you attach the print to a sturdier background, such as a card base. Next time, I might try using unprinted wallpaper, which I have in my storage from wallpapering, as there are always small pieces left over that are not big enough for wallpapering. For my next attempt, I made a checklist of things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- make sure you have enough space to work<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- paint the plate before engraving<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- cut off any excess edges from the plate or continue the pattern to the edges<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- prepare the material to be printed before starting printing (cut the paper, fold the cards, etc.) so that the printing ink does not dry on the tray<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- carefully clean the plate of any engraving debris and dust<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- take only a little ink to the tray from the bottle at a time<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- roll the ink properly until there are no more ridges visible<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- apply the ink to the plate carefully several times with a roller<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- rub the paper carefully on all sides of the printing plate so that the pattern is transferred evenly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut1.jpg?resize=647%2C1024\")
Kaiverrus oli hauskaa, mutta pienien kuvioiden kaiverrus vaatii vakaata k\u00e4tt\u00e4. \/
Engraving was fun, but small details requite steady hand.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut2.jpg?resize=800%2C480\")
Ty\u00f6taso kannattaa suojata, sill\u00e4 painov\u00e4ri\u00e4 menee v\u00e4kisinkin muuallekin kuin levyyn. \/
Cover your workspace, because ink tends to go other places than the plate. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut3.jpg?resize=800%2C542\")
Japaninpaperi: vasemmalla ensimm\u00e4inen koevedos jossa oli liikaa painov\u00e4ri\u00e4. Oikealla olevassa vedoksessa v\u00e4ri oli jo kuivahtanut liiaksi. \/
Japanese paper: on the left is the first draft, which has too much ink. On the right the ink was already dried a bit too much.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut4.jpg?resize=800%2C517\")
Roska painolevyll\u00e4 n\u00e4kyy aina. Koeveoksen j\u00e4lkeen siistin tyhj\u00e4\u00e4 taustaa ja madalsin joitakin kohtia. Siit\u00e4 j\u00e4i levyyn v\u00e4h\u00e4n roskaa jota en huomannut poistaa. \/
Dirt on the plate always shows. After the first draft I tidied up the background by engraving some of the higher ridges off, but that left some debris on the place and that showed. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut5.jpg?resize=1000%2C606\")
Parhaimmissakin vedoksissa on tahroja ja ep\u00e4tasaisuutta, mutta ensimm\u00e4isiksi vedoksiksi ne ovat melko mallikkaat. \/
Even the best prints have stains and uneven colour, but for my first prints they are pretty nice. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.evildressmaker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/linocut6.jpg?resize=644%2C1024\")
Lopulliseen korttiin lis\u00e4sin v\u00e4h\u00e4n joulun taikaa. \/
I added some Christmas magic to the final card. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Olen halunnut kokeilla linopainantaa jo vuosia. Viime vuonna hankin jo siihen tarvikkeita, mutta en ole saanut aikaiseksi testata sit\u00e4. Nyt p\u00e4\u00e4tin ottaa h\u00e4rk\u00e4\u00e4 sarvista ja kokeilla hommaa. Perinteisesti painokuvio kaiverretaan linolevylle, mutta aloittelijoille on nykyisin saatavilla pehme\u00e4mpi\u00e4 ns. softcut-levyj\u00e4 joiden kaivertaminen on helpompaa. Olin hankkinut muutamia oikeita linolevyj\u00e4, sek\u00e4 yhden softcut-levyn, jotta voin kokeilla kumpaakin…. <\/p>\n