![]() This gave final prints a kind of transparency that resembled a watercolor painting. They were printed using a series of woodblocks carved by professionals and designed by artists.Įach block was used for a different color, and inks were weak pigments mixed with oil on the block. Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusaiīlock printing was popular in Japan centuries before Ukiyo-e first emerged, but these striking pieces of artwork reached their height during the Edo period in Japan (late 17th to late 19th century). This is one of the main ways to distinguish hand-block printed fabric from screen/digitally printed alternatives. There are typically several pattern blocks used, and since it’s done by hand the images never line up perfectly. The blocks are dipped in non-toxic ink and then stamped by hand on a large piece of fabric. Patterns are first drawn on wood, then carved and mounted on handles. Nowadays many are being driven out of business by screen printers and digital methods, but the technique still survives today. One of the most famous areas for this is around Jaipur, where there are countless communities dedicated to this ancient art. The technique is largely the same, but due to a long history and specialization in different types of dyes and fabrics, the Indian subcontinent is where the craft truly shines. When it comes to block printing on fabric, India is one of the most famous sources of fine artisan patterns. For modern examples with MDF, check out the work of Brian Reedy and Davide Schileo. ![]() Using wood for printmaking remains popular today, with certain synthetic materials like medium-density fiberboard (MDF) making for an excellent and inexpensive substitute. ![]() Fruit woods like pear and cherry are common historical choices, but many more types are viable when mounted on a plywood base. Porous woods like oak and softwoods like pine and cedar are less suitable, as they won’t retain such fine detail. The trick when working with wood is using a hard, tight-grained material. Read also: Best wood for woodblock printing In Europe, these are frequently called woodcut prints. This is a broad category that includes many specific techniques. This is the oldest type of block printing, with the images carved out of a solid piece of wood. Block printing on wood (woodcut) Photo via Sachi Serrano (Tiny Workshops) Here’s a quick description of each and a bit of history about each one. There are several different techniques and materials used for block printing around the world. However, due to the complexity of written Chinese with 40,000+ unique characters, block printing remained a convenient way to print books for centuries. It served as both an art form and a way to print text before the invention of moveable type. There are no known examples of printmaking on papyrus.īlock printing was later picked up in the rest of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe centuries later. That means that block printing probably predates paper. Initially, these age-old blocks were applied solely on fabric - paper is known to have been used for block printing for the first time during the 7th century. ![]() Photo credit VmenkovĪncient works show that the earliest block printing practices originated in China during the third century AD. A brief history of block printing Chinese block printing text. However, since the process is generally done by hand, no two prints are ever the same. In the past, these were also used to print entire books.ĭepending on the size of the knife and the quality of the material, it’s possible to capture a fine degree of detail in each print. Woodblock prints can range from small images intended to be repeated in a pattern to large works of art that require a large printing press to print. The block serves as a stamp, with the final product resulting in a mirror image of the carving. ![]() Block printing is a relief printing technique that uses a carved material (typically wood, linoleum, or rubber) to transfer ink onto fabric or paper. ![]()
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