I want to have a go at block printing as we did so when I was at school and I loved it.
I want to make some cushion covers for myself and a hope to be able to sell some if it works out.
My issue is the ink I use
I have googled about inks but its a little vague as to weather its for fabric or paper on some of them I want to use it on fabric.
Does it have to state it on the bottle or tube or does it have to be the oil based ones that are? Or can I use screen printing ink as well?
Hi, I think screenprinting ink is probably too runny for block printing.
Friends who are printmakers use oil-based inks to print cushion covers - obviously water-based are not suitable, as the colours will run/rub off / wash out.
You may be able to find inks specifically designed for fabrics.
âRelief Printing Inksâ or âBlock Printing Inksâ are what you need. I recommend a flat glass cutting board, as an inexpensive surface on which to roll out your inks - you only need a little at a time - apply with a flat knife or pallette knife, in a line, then roll with a brayer/ printerâs roller, to get a nice even, thinnish layer. You donât want it too thick, or youâll end up rolling far too much ink onto the block.
You can use your pallet knife to scrape up any left-over ink, then store in a little jar. You can also use the knife to blend inks, to create your own shades.
I would recommend colour-tests on spare scraps of fabric, to make sure you like the result, before you commit to a print-run!
Youâre welcome!
Try this video (You Tube), to see Mariann (an artist friend whoâs a great printmaker) inking up some plates and doing what she calls âMix & Matchâ prints. http://preview.tinyurl.com/lc4bamm
Hi!
I use caligo relief printing ink for all my lino prints. They are made by a fab uk company but as theyâre water soluble theyâre no good for fabric. (I recommend them if you want to do prints onto paper though!)
Speedball is probably the easiest to get a hold of for their specific fabric inks.
From my experience, I recommend you use more ink on the block print for fabric than you usually would for paper as some of it will soak into the fabric so you wonât have such a bold look- depending on the look youâre going for that is- Personally I like the washed out look.
I know that with the speedball fabric inks you generally have to leave it on to dry for about a week before itâs safe to wash. And even then itâs advised that itâs only washed using a gentle and cool wash.
Some fabric relief inks need to be ironed afterwards to seal them as well.
Susannah, I believe the Speedball inks are ironed on the back of the fabric, to fix them; but I should think they would need a few days to dry first, as theyâre oil-based. An oil-based print on paper needs to dry thoroughly, before itâs ready for framing, so fabric must need a bit longer.
Yes speedball does come out the best I did buy some from a shop on eBay and never received it so had to make a clam through eBay so it was a bit of a waste of time.
There are different speedball inks. I know their most recent fabric ink is just a âlet dry for a weekâ it doesnât need to be ironed as Iâve just been using that one. Others do though.
I much prefer the oil based inks, I think they create a nicer finish- just take longer to dry.
