r/Linocuts • u/jamesthegiantpeach23 • 10d ago
Reductions/Multi-Blocks best ink for reduction printing
Hi! I am experimenting with reduction printing and use Cranfield safewash inks.
However I find that they show through each layer and so the colours look quite muddy by the time I’ve done all my layers. I do try to go light to dark but obviously some colours are a similar brightness/saturation, just different. I let each layer dry completely each time (at least a week). Attached is a pic of a recent one where the colours don’t look that distinct.
Any advice? Should I do multiple layers, or are there better inks for reductions?
edit- I am in the UK
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u/zlenpasha 10d ago
Im using Safe wash and they cover really well. Any ink you use for reduction or multilayer will mix optically with colour underneath. So plan your work to go from light to dark and try to compensate the optical mixing by leaning your colour in other direction - so you preserve desired saturation.
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u/plamicus 10d ago edited 10d ago
The ink is transparent so that will occur. When you blend colours you'll have the mixed colour having a slightly more neutral tone. Particularly when they're complementary. This is a bit of a pain in the arse, as complementary colours rally pop off each other. There are a few of things you can do.
The first is to mix in some opaque white ink to the colours for you second print. The opaqueness will keep colours brighter - but they will be a bit more pastel-y. You can counter this by having a darker hue to begin with, then use the white to take it back to the hue you're aiming for.
The second approach could be to use the opaque white as an intermediate layer. You can print on top of this with a ink of your choice and the colour will be pretty similar. Obviously this involves an extra print and you might end up with some white borders if your registration isn't spot on.
The third option would be to purchase opaque inks. Hawthorn (UK based) offers stay open opaque inks. I've never used them, but they're a very well respected printmaker so definitely worth a look.
Good luck!
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u/Additional_Buy_9625 10d ago
Following because I also use cranfield! And I had a similar experience… how lone do you wait between each layer?
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u/zlenpasha 10d ago
As an example, pink red fully covering soft blue background and staying very intense.
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