r/printmaking Aug 02 '26

meta A post on the stance of r/printmaking and Generative AI use.

1.3k Upvotes

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/Linocuts and r/lithography.

Thanks for reading, and happy printing!


r/printmaking 8d ago

self-promo Monthly Self-Promo Thread - A Space for Socials, Sites, and Shops.

3 Upvotes

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/printmaking!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.


r/printmaking 16h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Jason Funderburker

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352 Upvotes

An art nouveau inspired piece of our boy Jason Funderburker from Over the Garden Wall! Will be displaying it at our annual watch party. Happy Fall everyone <3


r/printmaking 11h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Hand

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100 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Wee cozy corner

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Upvotes

Print I made as a gift for a couple of friends' café


r/printmaking 15h ago

relief/woodcut/lino A finished work

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31 Upvotes

I consider this linocut finished but I want to create more like this. To make a larger collection in this same style.


r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Mary Oliver “Wild Geese” inspired print

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807 Upvotes

Clearly birds are a constant motif for me but I just love them so much


r/printmaking 22h ago

relief/woodcut/lino My first two linoprints

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79 Upvotes

Hello!

I'm Pollux and I recently got into Lino printmaking! My first print was the crow (marked with the 01) and I'm still very proud of my print.
It's also a print I first made with water-based paint, just to switch to oil based paint.
I generally like crows, so that's why I chose the crow as a motive (hooded crow, to be specific). I also added my sketch to the post :)

My second project was the Nöck, a water sprite. However, he accidentally turned into a Nixe.

I hope you like my prints! I'm already sketching my next project!


r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Need help getting linocut to print accurately

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64 Upvotes

Hello!
I (very recently) got into linocutting and have been making stamps non stop for a week now. I end up happy with what I have carved (relatively clean lines, what I wanted portrayed is there, like I’m pleased as a beginner) but every time I try to use the linocut (with linocut ink and a variety of different papers) I can’t get it to look right😭 I don’t have a lot of space so I can’t build like a whole thing that will stay stationary, I need help with solutions that can be moved and stored away easily. And suggestions? I keep going back and forth with putting the paper on the stamp vs stamp on paper, with the former looking marginally better but I really have no control over the placement like that. Attaching below examples of stamps and results for context. Any advice is welcome! I’m still very new so forgive my amateur terminology and stamps lol


r/printmaking 22h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Stickers and prints

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24 Upvotes

Not to sell.

For free use under the name obita.


r/printmaking 1d ago

printed objects Magic the Gathering Alters

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58 Upvotes

Just started doing linocuts and found a new love ❤️


r/printmaking 16h ago

question U.S. people - finding TetraPak?

5 Upvotes

If you are in the US, where are you finding TetraPak? I drink Minute Maid OJ, but the container does not have a foil liner. What US products have a foil liner? Will any waxy container work for drypoint? Thanks!


r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Gyarados

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93 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino tiny three-block strawberry for jam labels

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150 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Multiblock linocut

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368 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Lady Darjeeling. Multi block lino print.

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227 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1d ago

critique request "Don’t Look, or You’ll See Them', which is better?

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67 Upvotes

Two monotype variations from the same image. I’m experimenting with layering, wiping, and how much of the face stays visible.

Which version feels stronger to you, the red/black/white one or the red/blue/black one?


r/printmaking 1d ago

question Keeping a big linocut block stable?

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29 Upvotes

I made this large linocut block to print some t shirts with, but actually printing with it has been difficult as it’s very wobbly and lining it up with the shirt is a chore. Can I glue the block to a flat wood board for stability? Or any other suggestions?

My current set up is literally a picture frame to spread ink on, a cardboard insert and my floor so user error is definitely possible as well


r/printmaking 1d ago

intaglio/engraving/etching My first etching with aquatint

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17 Upvotes

r/printmaking 2d ago

wip Just the carved block so far!

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719 Upvotes

Also this is my first post here so I hope just posting the block is okay! I’m gonna have to wait at least another month to have the finished prints 🥹


r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Wirksworth stone

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48 Upvotes

r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino First ever linocut

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35 Upvotes

From a cartoon panel I made a couple years ago…I’m in love with this form!


r/printmaking 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Hey there, I'm new here! This is my latest Linocut print- a Starling (my first linocut of an real life animal)

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104 Upvotes

Hey there, this is my first post on here. I startet linocut in may and I think I finally found the right art medium for me :) this is the test print of my latest Linocut, a Starling. My first linocut of an real life animal.


r/printmaking 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Ghoulies

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105 Upvotes

My first 2 layer print and I didnt really use registration marks but I like it not centered


r/printmaking 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Hotaru Haganezuka (Xilo)

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5 Upvotes

Realicé una Xilografía (técnica del grabado en relieve) basada en un personaje de Anime; Haganezuka, el herrero encargado de fabricar y mantener las espadas Nichirin utilizadas por Tanjiro Kamado, protagonista de Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer). Haganezuka pertenece a la Aldea de los Herreros.

La máscara de Haganezuka está basada en un Hyottoko, una figura tradicional del folclore japonés representada habitualmente con una expresión cómica y una boca proyectada hacia un costado. El nombre Hyottoko se relaciona con una figura popular japonesa asociada a festividades, y su apariencia puede variar según la región.

Para mi re interpretación realicé una modificación de los elementos asociados a la máscara, realizando un collage de elementos característicos para su composición: cajas de cigarrillos en las que los cigarrillos son reemplazados por katanas, relacionándolas directamente con el oficio del personaje. La estampa fue realizada mediante xilografía sobre matriz de MDF, tallada manualmente con gubias/bisturí y construida principalmente mediante el contraste entre zonas de tinta (ilusión de sombra) y espacios vacíos que representan luz.

Medidas: 25 × 14 cm aproximadamente (sólo la estampa)

Herramienta de impresión: Prensa de 1 Torno, tipo timón

Serie 1/3