Thanks this it was really helpful. I really like the Japanese woodblock technique, but I like stronger, more graphic images or marks. Have you ever carved your block, and then sealed it with either acrylic paint? Or acrylic medium, or even what Woodworkers use to seal wood so that it doesn't absorb water ? Will that ruin the print in some way? If the block is going to suck in the first layers of ink anyway, then why not just seal the wood, and then print the image?
Hi - Thanks for your comments. Yes, I have sealed wood with shellac when I've done reduction prints on birch. With Shina, I tend to just ink the block first in a transparent color, wipe it down well with a dry rag and then let it dry well before I start printing by letting it sit for a couple of days. This will seal the wood, and I can ink easily next time. Also, this means I can clean the block with a very small amount of paint thinner on a flat folded up rag, and just lightly clean the surface. Makes switching colors easy. When I'm printing in black, I ink up for proofing in black, wipe it down well and let it dry. That seals the wood. I try to minimize any liquid on the blocks so there is no swelling.
Hi Declan - Hum. If I'm screen printing, I only use water-based inks. If you're talking about a DIY situation with trying to screen Caligo through a screen, onto wood. It might work. Try it. But, that's not what the ink is made to do.
Thanks this it was really helpful. I really like the Japanese woodblock technique, but I like stronger, more graphic images or marks. Have you ever carved your block, and then sealed it with either acrylic paint? Or acrylic medium, or even what Woodworkers use to seal wood so that it doesn't absorb water ? Will that ruin the print in some way? If the block is going to suck in the first layers of ink anyway, then why not just seal the wood, and then print the image?
Hi - Thanks for your comments. Yes, I have sealed wood with shellac when I've done reduction prints on birch. With Shina, I tend to just ink the block first in a transparent color, wipe it down well with a dry rag and then let it dry well before I start printing by letting it sit for a couple of days. This will seal the wood, and I can ink easily next time. Also, this means I can clean the block with a very small amount of paint thinner on a flat folded up rag, and just lightly clean the surface. Makes switching colors easy. When I'm printing in black, I ink up for proofing in black, wipe it down well and let it dry. That seals the wood. I try to minimize any liquid on the blocks so there is no swelling.
Sorry can you screen print w oil based ink on wood
Hi Declan - Hum. If I'm screen printing, I only use water-based inks. If you're talking about a DIY situation with trying to screen Caligo through a screen, onto wood. It might work. Try it. But, that's not what the ink is made to do.
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