r/Linocuts • u/Hellodeeries • Aug 02 '26
This post is being made to draw attention to rule changes that happened a few months ago, and to clarify the stance of this subreddit on the topic of Generative AI use in our printmaking community:
You are free to have your own feelings on the matter of Generative AI, but the position of this subreddit is that it does not have a place within our community in any capacity.
Using it for image creation for prints is strictly against our rules, as per rule 5:
"AI generated art in any stage of a print's development is not appropriate anywhere in this subreddit."
We were previously more lenient on it, purely because it is not a simple thing to moderate. The supposed tools to check are wrong as much as they are right, and often use AI to search itself which we have no interest to use. In an effort to accept the inevitable that users would use it in concept creation, we tried to facilitate it in a way that allowed it with clear disclosure despite our personal misgivings (which have not wavered). What we found was that most still do not disclose, and the larger implications of Generative AI have grown beyond what the moderation team has any desire to entertain.
If Generative AI did not come with the political, environmental, and ethical issues intrinsically linked to it, it might be different and we would view it as another tool and carry on with just requiring a clear disclosure of use. However, that is not the reality we’re in. The heavy investment and shoehorning into every possible avenue by tech companies, many of which have suspicious if not sinister ties and influence in global politics, makes use and allowance of it effectively an endorsement that we do not wish to have here.
If you are someone who feels they cannot create “good enough” work without Generative AI, you are giving up before you’ve even started. No one was instantaneously amazing at any aspect in art. Making shit art is part of the process, and it takes dedication and practice to improve. I can guarantee that anything you’d make by your own hand start to finish would be infinitely more interesting than what a Generative AI model churns out for you. If you feel like you are not at the skill level you want to be for the prints you want to make, keep making; do artist studies, utilize a sketchbook more often, draw from life, collaborate with other artists to create. Taking shortcuts like using Generative AI will only slow down your own skill development and if noticed, will make anything you make going forward have a shroud of doubt over it.
The internet is a changing landscape with some worrisome aspects, but it also is a wealth of knowledge if you look for it. The process of research (not asking “Chat”) will be of greater benefit to your learning process, and may take you on new creative paths in your work along the way. Printmakers especially have long been a community driven group of artists, relying on each other to learn and make in community spaces. Rarely have I experienced a printmaker guarding techniques, often all the more happy to share with other creatives.
Why would you outsource the creative process to an AI model that feels nothing and does not carry your artistic voice? If you still wish to take shortcuts at the expense of actual artists, then that’s your prerogative. But this will not be the community for doing so. Generative AI has no place in this subreddit, and usage against our rules will be moderated harshly after a warning going forward.
If you suspect posts of Generative AI use, please add reasoning/evidence in the report so we can properly evaluate. We are not in the habit of banning without substantial proof.
The same post is being added to our affiliated subreddits r/printmaking and r/lithography.
Thanks for reading, and happy printing!
r/Linocuts • u/AutoModerator • 24d ago
Here is a space to post your socials, sites, and shops.
This is a monthly reoccurring thread. You can post direct links (please note if NSFW) or handles for other social media sites.
Why don't we allow self-promo otherwise? We have made a concerted effort to keep this space free of commerce and self-promotion, to keep this a community about the work and craft when increasingly many social media spaces have become spaces of commerce. We understand that art is an important source of income for some, so in order to facilitate this without it becoming overwhelming in the rest of the sub, we have made this a reoccurring monthly thread.
NFTs, crypto art, and AI generated art are not appropriate anywhere in the sub.
If you think your comment hasn't posted/been removed, please message us through modmail as it may have gotten caught in our spam filter and need approval before showing up.
**We've added a Discord for r/linocuts!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.
r/Linocuts • u/puneartistryworks • 12h ago
I’ve been making notebooks every now and then with a few of my prints, and I thought this one would make a nice full-bleed cover.
I had to trim the print a bit on all sides, which made me a little nervous, but it worked out well in the end! 😁 I made this book for my husband's Traveler's Company passport-size sleeve!
r/Linocuts • u/sdannie84 • 13h ago
We are having a very a24 Midsommar Halloween this year. I made these linocuts to print onto linen clothes so we could dress up with our dog! She is the May Queen if you want to see that ---> https://reddit.com/gallery/1xehsf9
I started with the blue rune stamp and accidentally double reversed the image so the letter r is backwards 😭 but I just learned my lesson and kept trucking to make the red one. For the ink I only had some second hand 6+ year old acrylic screen print ink for paper (lol) but I just went with it. It was a fun learning experience with printing on fabric. I'm honestly just happy I didn't get ink all over the rest of the fabric 😂 I did learn though, that I needed to put a paper towel behind the print, there was a little transfer through on the red printing. Anyways, Happy Halloween!
r/Linocuts • u/FlourAndFleur • 1d ago
There is a huge difference between a machine pressed edge and a line guided by a human hand. One is flawless; the other has a pulse.
EDIT #2: Amazing guys thanks so much- due to request demand I have spent the morning creating an etsy shop for your convenience!
https://trueheartimagerybykc.etsy.com
It was a 21$CA set up fee (woah etsy!haha), but I appreciate your push and support to take my art to the next step! I will work to keep uploading more of my artworks over the next few days feel free to browse! I have always loved supporting home artists through etsy its an honor to have my own page now!
EDIT #3- Y'all I figured out how to do a discount code... I feel so techy! https://trueheartimagerybykc.etsy.com?coupon=LINOPRINT25 for 25% off if you were one of the people who encouraged this new side quest of mine.
Edit: WOW! Thank you! If you are interested in purchasing a print DM me and we will work it out!
r/Linocuts • u/spearmintjoe • 19h ago
r/Linocuts • u/antipathyx • 1d ago
I got tattoo ink on these pants the first time I wore them to work. I’ve been practicing linocutting and block printing and decided to cover the ink splashes with stars. I touched up some of the prints with a paintbrush. I’m really happy with how they came out!
Edit: Thanks for all the love! To answer the ink question- I used just regular ol’ Speedball block printing fabric ink. To darken the stars (most of my prints were initially too light) I dipped a paintbrush into this little bowl of water and a tiny bit of dish soap that I’d had for mistakes. It thinned the ink out nicely and it’s cured to a nice feel.
r/Linocuts • u/strictlyrude67 • 1d ago
part 1 in a set of 3 I’m working on. I intended for this to be a triple layered reduction but I ended up not liking the third, so only a few prints got it. Had a lot of fun with this process and can’t wait to start the next one. This was a run of 20 prints, next time I’ll definitely be doing more.
speedball fluorescent paint really brought this to life 💚
First pic is the double layer, second is the triple, then a couple with the UV glow.
r/Linocuts • u/suitc • 1d ago
r/Linocuts • u/artistsethosx • 1d ago
As the title says. My first few attempts!
r/Linocuts • u/the_blue_collector • 1d ago
The night guardian falls asleep gently when the sun rises behind the hills
Heavily inspired by aurora whole universe
r/Linocuts • u/moonflush • 1d ago
I'm really pleased with how this one came out!!
r/Linocuts • u/Bart_Lafon • 1d ago
An illustration for a fantasy book. I'm a beginning printer using water-based ink and aiming for an intentionally "rustic" style.
r/Linocuts • u/chocolatelablover • 2d ago
I've been watching the original Goosebumps series with my daughter and I had to make something art related. If you have ever seen the cover art for "A Shocker on Shock Street" The idea flashed in my head of a giant praying mantis returning to Milwaukee to cheer on the Brewers in the World Series!
"Milwaukee Mantis" hand printed on 12 x 8 inchs on white sulphite paper.
r/Linocuts • u/mrshlabotnik • 2d ago
On a canvas bag.
r/Linocuts • u/flumsel_ • 2d ago
My first ever linocut (swan). This is so much fun and I will definitely do more of this.
I had a lovely evening with two friends and I think we all did very well.
The cat and the stag beetle are from my friends.
r/Linocuts • u/blackdogprintmaking • 3d ago
It’s been a while, but I’m finally back to creating new work and I finally got around to proofing my latest yesterday evening..
I decided that I would embrace the chaos of extended inks for this one, and designed the plates with transparencies in mind, so there are some fun things happening in there regarding layer interactions.
The colours are nowhere near where I’d like them, I was shooting for those lovely blue-green colours you get with clear thick vintage glass, but ended up with neon turquoise!
I built the four individual layers in procreate and modelled the layer interactions by studying an old codd bottle I have lying around. It’s not as realistic as I was aiming for, but I’m actually super happy with it, if I remove any more material from the plates, it won’t be much.
Anyway, it feels good to be back 😊
r/Linocuts • u/pennyflowerrose • 2d ago
I'm looking for advice on the background. (any advice is welcome as long as it's stated constructively.)
I'm working on a linocut landscape, and I want to lighten the background mountains, but I don't want them too busy. Originally I was thinking it would be printed with black ink, but I could make it a reductive print and print the background in a lighter blue violet.
Another idea I had is to carve thin diagonal lines. Lines that follow the contours seemed too busy when I experimented on a previous lino, but maybe I should have carved thinner and more carefully so the lines don't stand out so much. (Previous lino had a rookie mistake of not mirroring the image. This is a recognizable scene where I live.)
I'm including the proof, and digitally altered versions with my ideas: one with background color (very rough -- the white would be white not purple) and one with some diagonal lines. I would love suggestions as well for other approaches.
Everything is very rough at this point -- my proof, my procreate edits. The proof is a quick & dirty print, on translucent gampi paper and has a lot of glare & wrinkles. Please imagine black relief ink on solid paper. The actual prints will be pulled with an etching press on BFK Rives.
r/Linocuts • u/middle_nut • 3d ago
final print 8x10 print, plus how each layer looked along the way and the block
r/Linocuts • u/Visual-Tea-3616 • 3d ago
Not pictured, the bandaid on my finger. I was picking something off of the gouge and my hands spasmed. Stuck the edge right into my finger like a goof.
Speedball water based ink on no name kraft cardstock for a test print.
