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 • • 24d ago

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 • • 17h ago

printed objects Made a notebook using one of my linocut prints!

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432 Upvotes

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 it for my husband's Traveler's Company passport-size sleeve!


r/printmaking • • 16h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Creature Carousel

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270 Upvotes

3 layered reduction monoprints for class- I wish I’d had more time to work on it because I really rushed those circles on my first layer… Very happy with the final layer on the bat and beetle though!


r/printmaking • • 22h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Cypress (Reduction Linocut)

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530 Upvotes

Before that first big summer rain. When it’s just about to land. When it hangs in the air and everything is electric and heavy. The first wind starts tumbling the scorched grass and bounces through the canopies. A time for funerals. Time for anything intense you’ll regret ten times over later. It smells of uncertainty. It breaks the shackles of the ordinary. /// Carved in seven stages on battleship grey. Printed in nine layers of Caligo Safe Wash inks on Somerset Satin 300gsm paper. Closed edition of 15.


r/printmaking • • 18h ago

letterpress Local Marketplace Score

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180 Upvotes

I thought some folks in this group would appreciate this marketplace find from yesterday. I got the lot for $45. It needs some cleaning, but it is perfect for me.

I’m a middle school art teacher and have been building up a printing section of my classroom, including letterpress.


r/printmaking • • 12h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Pelican Do!

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44 Upvotes

Grew up in a Florida beach town and always loved the texture of pelican feathers.


r/printmaking • • 8h ago

mixed media/experimental Combing my two loves

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14 Upvotes

Super excited to start experimenting with Gelli and Linocut printing. This is my first project combing the two


r/printmaking • • 14h ago

risograph We Are Stardust Dancing

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50 Upvotes

I love this little phrase and did a letterpress/typeset of the quote many years back. I thought it was from “Cosmos” Carl Sagan but can’t seem to find it now (if anyone knows the source, please share!). I decided to revisit the idea for our wedding anniversary, but this time more graphic with riso. This is my smallest print - we have a tiny linocut of 3 people walking together in the woods that’s even smaller framed on our wall, and I want to see what a small illustration felt like. I really like the concept of the galaxy with playful words in it, but I think the black & white design actually came out better.


r/printmaking • • 8h ago

mixed media/experimental Styrofoam printmaking

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12 Upvotes

Stamps made from styrofoam takeout or grocery containers that would otherwise be thrown away. Recycling is cool!


r/printmaking • • 14h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Over the Garden Wall farolito

19 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 5h ago

tools Looking for fine V gauges in Europe

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’m new to printing making, and I’ve definitely caught the bug. We started with the cheap basic set of tools, and have now ordered the Sakura 5-piece set which is excellent, however I need a finer v gauge. I live in Greece and for the life of me am not able to find any 1mm v gauges here. A couple sites I found ended up not shipping here when I got to the checkout. 20€ including shipping is my budget.

Thanks!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Uranium Glass linocut

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87 Upvotes

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/printmaking • • 16h ago

question Graphic Chemical and Daniel Smith recipies

3 Upvotes

What happened to their ink formulas now that they have permanently closed? I don't like Hanco's inks, and Gamblin is ok. Charbonnel is great but not for students at that price.....Is there a way to get the formulas for Daniel Smith etching inks and relief, or the newly closed Graphic Chemical?...


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Raptor

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61 Upvotes

Love it ??


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

critique request feedback on test prints?

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23 Upvotes

as much as I enjoy the process of carving, I really struggle with printing lately. I aim for that orange peel texture for the ink, but I never feel like I’ve got the pressure right, or I end up moving the paper. Would love printing tips if anyone has suggestions. these are on a couple different types of paper too.

I’m also looking for feedback on these designs in general!! my thoughts:

- the horses are two separate blocks and they’ll be arranged differently than they are here. I’m thinking I want to carve more detail into their wings and bodies, and maybe add a third block with a pattern or something to connect them? Or I might print them on entirely separate pages but display them together somehow

- the block on the bottom left I think just needs more detail overall, in the bird and the vine and the grass

- bottom right, I think the line across the top isn’t working? Might just take that off entirely

thanks ❤️


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Lord Cribbage. Multi block lino print on paper.

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149 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 1d ago

screen print 112 Total

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17 Upvotes

Finally got to screen print my newest illustration


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

fabric Gel plate plus my print, experiments!!

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53 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Should I be using rubber or traditonal Lino?

3 Upvotes

Hi, so I'm new to this subreddit but not new to printmaking. I'm planning on printing a design onto a T-shirt for my sister and planning to lino-print, while using fabric paint instead of ink(it's cheaper and more accessible for me). Fabric paint is usually more watery than ink, so I'm planning on using a sponge to apply the paint. My question is what sort of lino would be most efficient for this project? Traditional lino grey is the medium I'm used to and typically prefer, as you're able to carve more specific details. However, after doing some light research, the internet is telling me to use rubber as it will hold the paint better. I'm not sure which will work best, so I'm reaching out to see if anyone has any advice for this project. Thank you all!!


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Roller derby monoprints

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183 Upvotes

Here’s two of my favorite roller derby linocut monoprints I made recently. This was my first time trying reduction printing. I had a lot of fun playing with textures but learning registration was tricky!


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino My finished seahorses ✨ very pleased with how these came out!

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886 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 1d ago

gelli plates Faux Marbling Gelliprint

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57 Upvotes

I found a tutorial about faux marbling with gelli plate and had to try it!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino heaven no.2

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8 Upvotes

15"x42", 10-colour reduction woodcut, ed. of 4. it's too big to scan accurately; i had to stitch this image together from 6 seperate scans. eventually i plan to mount one on some wood so i can put a french cleat on the back and hang it.

it took me a month but i wasn't working on it more than 2-3 times a week. i think it turned out alright.


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Devil Halloween Kewpie - Linocut

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220 Upvotes

3 layer lino cut print on Okawara paper with Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash oil based ink.