Not only is it perfectly flat and warp-resistant due to the alternating grain directions, but the wood itself is also perfectly suited to woodcut prints. Shina plywood easily takes the top spot when it comes to wood for woodblock printmaking. Scroll down a bit further to know the pros/cons of each to help choose the right one for you! I’ve listed five of the best options below. Tight grains are also ideal for maintaining a high level of detail. In general, you want something perfectly flat with no knots or imperfections. When it comes to woodcut, there are many great woods for printmaking that fit into all budgets. This will, of course, require a small collection of woodworking tools. Cutting and gluing them together with the end train lined up can produce excellent blocks for engravings. If you’re having trouble sourcing wood blocks for engraving, try buying pen blanks. Avoid softwoods! Boxwood is a popular choice, but fruit tree wood and other hardwoods like beech will also work. When it comes to the best wood for engravings, stick to something with a tight, consistent grain. Certain high-quality carving tools, like those by Pfeil Tools, may also work. Although wood engraving is a relief printmaking method (while most engraving is intaglio), most engravers use the same burin used in etchings and other types of engravings. However, end grain is typically much more difficult to carve. This enables a higher level of detail in the final print. It uses end-grain wood instead of long-grain for carving. Wood engraving is a newer relief printmaking technique than woodcut. How does wood engraving differ from woodcut? It’s cheap, sold in large panels, and available just about everywhere. MDF, another manufactured option, is a great alternative. However, plywood panels of that size can be very expensive. When it comes to making large woodcut prints, engineered products are the way to go. That means they’re nearly always flat, and the outer layer (which you’ll carve and print on) is made of high-quality veneer. Several thin layers are glued together with perpendicular grain patterns, making them extremely resistant to warping. Perhaps the best wood for woodcut printmaking is plywood. Others, like oak, are unsuitable because they’re very porous and prone to splintering. When printmaking on wood, softwoods are generally easier to carve but won’t retain as much detail as hardwoods. If you don’t have a woodworking workshop, this can be difficult to achieve if you buy from the wrong source.Īnother important consideration is how easy the wood is to carve. That means no knots, cracks, or deep scratches. The other requirement is that it’s blemish-free. This not only prevents wobbling while carving, it also makes it much easier to apply ink using an ink brayer and get a better finish when using a press. No matter which wood you use for printmaking, there are a few basic requirements. Woodcut prints have been around for thousands of years all over the globe, and the types of wood blocks used vary wildly depending on local geography. Types of wood blocks for printmaking Photo credit Nick Rowan (Tiny Workshops)
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How to prepare wood blocks for printmaking.Partial gift of the artist and museum purchase with funds donated in honor of Edward W. Museum purchase with funds provided by J. Poplar, basswood, lacewood, birch plywood, brass, copper, cast acrylic, enamel, and acrylic paint, driven by five electric motors controlled by switches, relays, and timers Gift of Tom Butler and Marilyn Laufer in honor of Joyce and Roger Lethander’s Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary
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