Linocut printing
Carving a design into linoleum, inking it and pressing it onto paper to make prints.
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Startup cost
$25–$100
Difficulty
Some practice needed
Typical session
~120 min
Activity
Sitting / gentle
Space
A table or desk
Equipment
A basic kit
What do you actually do?
- Draw a design and transfer it (reversed) to a block
- Carve away what you don't want printed
- Roll on ink and print by hand or press
Why people enjoy it
- One block makes many prints
- Bold, graphic results
- Carving is absorbing and tactile
What you'll need
- Lino or soft-cut block
- Lino cutter set
- Block printing ink
- Brayer (roller)
- Paper
- Wooden spoon to burnish
Startup cost: $25–$100 — a rough beginner estimate in US dollars (2026). Borrowing, secondhand and library kits can bring it down.
Time & difficulty
A typical session is about 120 minutes. Some practice needed: first tries are wobbly, but a few sessions make a real difference.
Getting started
- Start with a small block and simple shapes
- Remember the print is a mirror image
- Always carve away from your body and hand
- Roll thin, even ink and burnish with a spoon
Common beginner mistakes
- Carving toward your other hand
- Forgetting text prints backwards
- Too much ink, which fills in fine lines
Accessibility
Soft-cut blocks need less hand strength; a bench hook keeps the block steady.
Courses & resources
We haven't verified specific courses yet, so we're not listing any rather than guessing. Libraries, community centers and the official sites of tools you use are good first stops.