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There are two major categories of lino print inks: water and oil block print ink. As I’ve gone through my printmaking journey, I’ve tried out some water-based brands, plus one oil-based brand. Each type has their pros and cons, and each brand can also work better or worse, depending on your preferences.
You can watch me compare the two types of ink on my YouTube channel.
Water-based block print inks
Most beginners start by using a water-based ink. In general, water-based inks have quite a few advantages. Number one is they’re easy to clean up – just use water. There are also some very inexpensive options on the market, and you can generally find them in stores. They also dry very quickly so you can have a finished piece ready to go very quickly without worrying about setting it somewhere to dry for a long time.
Water-based inks do have some downsides. Since they dry fast, the ink can start drying up on your inking plate and tools while you’re still trying to print. If you want to print a series, you might not get many printed before the ink starting getting to dry to use. They also tend to have more patchiness and less even colours. I noticed that water-based inks are thinner, which is probably why patchiness is a bigger issue.
Speedball block printing ink
Let’s take a look at a very common brand. Speedball block printing ink is inexpensive, easy to get in many craft or art supply stores, and has a ton of colour options available. They do label each colour’s lightfastness, however they do not provide the pigments used in each. The issue with not knowing the pigments is that resulting mixes can be unpredictable. That might not be a concern for you, but for some artists, it’s a deal-breaker. They also offer an ink retarder, which I haven’t tried but is worth testing if you want to use water-based ink for a longer printing session.
When printing, the colours are quite vibrant, but do suffer from a fair amount of patchiness. Interestingly, the dried prints feel quite rough to the touch. Not necessarily a big deal, but definitely odd.
For me, the biggest issue with Speedball block printing ink is that it is uneven around the edges of a print. I think because it’s a less expensive brand, there’s a lower pigment load, so when I print,the edges do something strange where pigment is pushed into certain areas and not into others. This leaves a pale line next to a darker line. It’s noticeable enough that I personally wouldn’t want to sell prints using this brand.
When I was first trying block printing, I used Speedball block printing ink. I fairly quickly moved onto different products, but I still use this brand for test prints. It’s inexpensive, easy to clean up and dries quickly so I can get a good idea of whether I need to keep carving or if my lino is ready for a final printing. And if you’re just printing for yourself, or family and friends, it’s definitely a great brand.
Schmincke aqua linoprint (linoldruck)
There are several artist-quality water-based block printing ink brands available, including the Schmincke Aqua Linoprint ink. If you find you really like using water-based ink, I recommend trying at least one higher quality brand to see if it’s worth the higher price point for you.
The Schmincke aqua linoprint ink is definitely more expensive than the Speedball ink. The set I picked up was quite expensive with fairly small tubes, but you can pick up larger tubes – up to 250 ml, which can save you quite a bit in the long run. Higher-quality water-based block print inks are more challenging to find in stores. You’ll have the best luck at an art supply store, rather than a craft store.
Since the brand is made for artists, rather than crafters, they label each colour with the pigments used. This means you have more reliable colour mixing results. And while their colour options aren’t extensive, there’s more than enough to be able to mix pretty much any shade you’d like.
Because they’re water-based, it’s a thin ink, but it’s far less patchy than the Speedball ink. I also found that the issue with the obvious lines of pale, low pigment areas was much less common than with the Speedball. The printed colours are very nice and vibrant, although not as rich as an oil-based ink. I also find that the prints are nice and smooth, rather than being rough which I found with the Speedball ink. Overall, this is a fantastic ink that will allow you to produce excellent prints.
Oil-based block print ink
Now let’s turn to look at oil-based inks. They also generally have some pros, and a few cons. There are two major pros that have led me to almost exclusively use oil-based inks. For one, I can spend quite a bit of time – hours even – printing. I don’t have to worry about the ink drying on my tools or the inking plate. A few times a year, I need to produce dozens of prints in preparation for markets, so this is an absolute plus in my books.
The resulting prints are also more consistent and beautiful. There’s far less patchiness and the colour of the ink is much richer than I’ve found with a water-based ink. I think this might be partly because of how thick the ink is, along with a higher pigment load.
Of course, any ink has it’s downsides. I haven’t come across any less expensive brands of oil-based block print ink. They all seem to be artist-quality, which is great unless you are looking for a more affordable option. Artist quality brands will label the pigments, which means you have more predictable and consistent colour mixing.
They also take a very long time to dry. I’ve heard anywhere from a couple days to weeks before they’re fully dry. This means if you’re doing multi-layer prints or prepping for a show, you need to plan well ahead of time to make sure everything is dry enough. One nice feature is that once it’s dried, you can paint over it with watercolour. The watercolour paint will mostly be repelled from the printed areas and just show up in the unprinted areas.
An oil-based ink can be challenging to clean up. Most brands require you to use solvents to clean your tools and the inking plate. That’s something I won’t do at home, so I found a brand that cleans up with soap and water – Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash Relief Ink.
Cranfield Caligo Safe Wash Relief Ink
I have used this brand of ink for quite a few years now. It’s fantastic because it has all the positives of an oil-based ink, namely long working time, rich colours and excellent coverage, but it avoids the issues of having to clean with solvents.
It’s relatively expensive and can be tough to find. I have to order in from across the country, so I can’t just run out and pick up a new tube quickly. It’s available in tubes or larger tubs. I prefer the tubes as the tubs can be quite messy to work with. The tubs are also more prone to having little half-dried string bits in your ink. While I haven’t spent much time trying out different mediums, they do have an extender available, giving you more control over your printing experience. You can also use other oil-based brands of mediums and see how that works for you.
Get your own
Pick up your favourite relief printing ink at your local art supply store or on Amazon:
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