Recommended Tools & Materials for Printmaking Exploration

mollygrayart
Dec 3
9 min read

Updated: Dec 5

This post will make it easier for you to find and purchase tools and materials to pursue printmaking on your own. If you notice I am missing anything, please let me know.

*The amazon links in this post may be eligible for to earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. To-date, I have not earned a penny with the Amazon affiliate program.

If you do not want to shop on Amazon, I completely understand. Here is a list of other stores that may carry the recommended printmaking supplies listed below:

Opus Art Supplies - Founded in Vancouver. There are stores all over the lower mainland. Prices are typically a bit higher than other locations but they have a good selection of products.

DeSerres - This is a company founded in Quebec. There is a location in Vancouver. Fun fact: this is where I purchased all my art supplies at University when I lived in Quebec! They carry Essdee Printmaking supplies, which is a UK based Printmaking supplier.

Rath Art Supplies - This is a store to check out in person. I don't think they have a huge Printmaking section, but it's a really neat small business art store!

Michael's Art and Craft Supplies - Often have 30-40% off coupons available for online and in-store purchases. Great for those one item purchases. Not my favourite to shop in-person because of the florescent lighting.

Above Ground Art Supplies - Located in Toronto. This is my favourite store for pricing, reasonable shipping fees/shipping time. This is where I order linoleum by foot, printmaking paper and inks.

KMS Tools - For professional palm tools like Pfeil, and Flexcut.

Printmaking Starter Kits

Essdee Linocut Kit - Essdee is a UK based company that specializes in relief printing supplies. This is a super reasonably priced kit that even has a how-to booklet. I haven't tried this kit myself but I do have Essdee brayers(rollers) that I bought in London and I like them!

Speedball 7-piece starter kit - (Amazon is not showing prices at the moment). Also available from Deserres ($49.99) or Opus ($52.99) A note: I've found that Opus is usually a few dollars more than Deserres, and sometimes Amazon is somewhere inbetween. My favourite art store is in Toronto, and it's called Above Ground Art Supplies ($44.99)- their prices are always superior to BC. I'm not going to price shop the rest of the items going forward, but I want you to know there are options.

Speedball Deluxe Printmaking Kit - This kit is a bit more comprehensive, includes oil-based professional ink.

Speedball Fabric Printing Kit - This is the kit I would most recommend as it is the most versatile. You can use the fabric ink on paper and fabric.

Speedball Screenprinting Introductory Kit - This is a good starter kit, but I wouldn't bother with the drawing fluid & filler because it makes the screen more difficult to re-use. Use it for the stencil, screen and other items in the kit. Note that the ink it comes with, is not fabric ink, it is ink for paper. You will have to purchase separate screen fabric ink: White, Black, Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Pink. Glow in the dark and florescent! I have used the glow in the dark and can tell you it works! It's super cool.

Ink/Ink Pads

Stazon Ink Pad - This is a solvent based ink, which means it dries almost instantly when it hits the paper. I love using this for card printing and test printing my linocuts to see if I've removed enough, or missed any spots before rolling out ink.

Speedball Watersoluable inks - Great to start relief printing with. They dry relatively quickly, and are easy to clean. Down side of these, is that if you wanted to add watercolour to your prints, the ink will bleed.

Speedball Supergraphic Black - This is the professional oil-based ink I use for all my print editions. I like the viscosity and the way it prints. Oil-based inks are archival and will last for a long time. Once dry (about 2 weeks) you can add watercolour or other art mediums ot your prints. Washes up with soap and water. It's also available in a tube format that is easier to deal with and ends up with less wastage.

Gamblin Litho Black - This ink is for Lithography (kitchen variety and regular), as well as the etching style collagraphy/tetra pack printing.

Gamblin Etching Stiff Black Ink - Also for Lithography (kitchen variety and regular), as well as the etching style collagraphy/tetra pack printing.

Akua Ink - This is the ink we used for monoprinting. It won't dry until it comes into contact with paper.

Opaque Starter Screen printing ink set - If you are wanting to screen print on dark coloured t-shirts, this is the set to get.

Speedball Screenprinting Ink - If you are printing on light coloured t-shirts, this fabric screen printing ink is great!

Florescent Screen Printing Ink - Maybe you want to explore with this fun an bright screenprinting colours!!

Paper

Cardstock Paper - This is the paper we used in class. It's a great economical paper to get started. Bonus, great for card-making. Downside of this paper is that it is not acid-free, which means it will yellow/degrade over time, so it's not ideal for fine art prints.

Arnhem 1618 - This is an acid free paper making it archival my favourite paper for editions. Everyone will have different preferences in printmaking paper.

Strathmore Printmaking Paper Pad - This is a lightweight acid-free paper that's great to use for your first few editions. Maybe it will be your favourite, maybe not. Won't know until you try it.

Stonehenge and Arches BFK Reeves - I'm not linking to these because they are expensive and I personally don't like printing with it. However, these are the two papers that university art professors push students to use and blah blah on and on about how great it is. Try it, you might love it, and that is valid. I find it too think and textured for hand printing.

Tracing Paper - This is what we used in class for the second lino transfer method we learned. Simply trace your image, turn the tracing paper over and place it on the lino, and use your thumb nail or a bone folder to scratch the tracing paper until the image thas transferred to the lino. If your image is detailed. I recommend going over your transfer with a fineliner before you start to carve so your image doesn't get blurred while you carve.

4 x 6" Greeting Cards(white) - These are my favourite cards for quality and no-lick envelopes (self-sealing).

4 x 6 " Greeting Cards(craft) - This is the same card but in craft and a slighting lighter weight.

5 x 7" Greeting Cards(white) - Same as the 4 x 6" but 5 x 7".

5 x 7" Greeting Cards(craft)- This is the same card in 5 x 7" but in craft and a slighting lighter weight.

Newsprint - By no means do you have to buy this particular newsprint, any blank newsprint will do, or eco-printing paper. This is a low cost paper that it used for your first proof for relief printing, or as paper to put down on your working space to keep things clean.

Transparency Sheets - It's surprizing how handy these clear sheets come in handy. You can use them for stencils with monoprints or silkscreens. We did not cover this in class but you can use them with laser printers to print your designs for the screen printing photo emulsion technique.

Linocut Tools & Materials

Speedball Multi- tool - This is a great starter tool. It comes with 4 gouges & 1 blade. Available on Amazon (link above) or Michaels or Opus.

Speedball Baron - There are many different kinds of Barons. This one is decent, for small prints I just use my fist as shown in class. A wooden spoon will work well also.

Carving Blocks - These are the best priced 4 x 6" blocks I have found. It is what we used in class and is as close to Speedball, Speedycarve Rubber as one can get. Also available in green and white. Great because they are thick enough that you can carve and print both sides!

Speedball Speedycarve Rubber - This is a larger size rubber, great if you're wanting to make a bigger print but aren't ready to graduate to hard linoleum. Also available at Opus Art Supplies.

2" Brayer - This is the kind we used in class. It is also available in a 4", and 6".

3 - piece Hard Brayer Set. - We used the 4" versions of this brayer when we printed etched collagraphs and kitchen lithography. Can also be used for Lino.

Tracing Paper - The easy image transfer method. Can also find at Michaels and Opus.

2B pencils - My preferred transfer pencil. You can also use 4b, or 6b.

Flexcut Mini Palm Set - If you're wanting to spring for professional grade gouges, start with this set of four.

Scraper for clean up - You can usually find these at the dollar store in the hardware section, or Canadian Tire in the paint section.

Stazon Ink Pad - This is a solvent based ink as mentioned in the ink section.

Speedball Supergraphic Black - As mentioned in the ink section: washes up with soap and water. It's also available in a tube format that is easier to deal with and ends up with less wastage. Also comes in a variety of other colours: Green, Red, Blue, Violet, Yellow, White.

Screen Printing

Screen (10 x 12") - Great if your designs are around 6 x 8" or smaller.

Screen (10 x 14") - Can print designs up to 8 x 10".

Screen (12 x 16") - Can print designs up to 9 x 12".

Squeegee - This is an economical Speedball squeegee. It will work fine. It is the one you get in the kit that's listed above. I will also recommend another kind. You all know I love options!

Squeegee Option 2 - Not Speedball brand..finally some variety, am I right? This is a 3-size set, which is great! It's best practice to use a squeegee that is JUST bigger than the image you are printing. Why? It helps to reduce ink wastage.

Fabric Ink - As recommended in the Ink section.

Opaque Fabric Ink - As recommended in the Ink section.

Florescent Fabric Ink - As recommended in the Ink section.

Glow in the dark and florescent! - I have used the florescent and can confirm that it works. I made Harry Potter themed throw pillows. They were a big hit!!

Monoprinting

Geli Plates - Geli plates are expensive but last a very long time when properly cared for. I have had mine since 2019 and they are still working as well as when I first got them.

Akua Ink - Remember that a little goes a long way with this ink. Roll on thin!

Brayer(roller) - Same brayers as lino can be used here. Available in 2", 4", and 6".

Stencils

Found Nature

String

Tape

Anything that might make a cool texture.

Kitchen Lithography

8 x 10" Plexi Glass ( Pack of 5) - * HACK - you can go to ikea and buy a cheap frame the size you want to make your print and use the plexi glass out of the frame!

Hard Brayer Set - Remember with Kitchen Lithography it is JUST the weight of the brayer rolling over the ink, no additional pressure. Same goes for the wet sponge.

Etching Ink Option 1 - Remember the ink has to be oil-based, NOT WATER MISCIBLE. This means that it will not wash up with soap and water until it has been cleaned up with vegetable oil. If the ink is oil-based and water miscible (meaning it WILL clean up with soap and water) it will not work for kitchen lithography.

Etching Ink Option 2 - Another option.

Aluminum Foil - Remember to draw on the matte side. Get at the dollare store.

Crayons - Go to a dollar store.

Sponges - Dollar Store

Vegetable Oil - For clean up. Again, dollar store.

Collagraphy and Other Relief Printing Items That You May Like.

Cardboard/ Cereal Boxes/ Tetra Paks - Depends on whether you are wanting to make a relief print or etching.

Shellac - To seal the plates. I tried acrylic varnish and the prints did not turn out. Switched to this, and Bob's-your-uncle, the prints started looking good!

Ink for Relief Print Collagraph - You can use any of the relief printing inks recommended above. Speedball watersoluable relief ink, relief fabric ink, or professional reliefe printing ink.

Ink for Etching Collagraph - Make sure you are using Etching ink as the viscosity is thicker than relief printing ink. Use this for the cereal box and tetra pak printing.

Cheese Cloth - For Etched collagraphy. Can also get this at the dollar store, or grocery stores.

Newsprint/Phone book paper - used to buff plate after cheese cloth.

Q-Tips - used for etched collagraph to wipe unwanted ink away.

Scrapers - These tools are so handy in a printmaking studio. I use the smaller ones to mix/warm up ink, and to scrape ink off the glass to clean up, and to scoop ink out of the pot. The larger ones I have used a squeegees, and to wipe silkscreens with photo emulsion(we did not get to do this in class).

Fineliner Pens - I use this set to go over my image transfers on lino before I start carving. Totally optional. I also use them for water colour and ink pieces, completely unrelated to printmaking.

Additional things you can get at the dollar store

Masking Tape

Packing Tape

String

Gluestick

Textured items for collagraphy

Sharpies

Cheesecloth

Sponges

Photoframe (for the glass to use as an ink plate)

Foam board

Small cutting mat with exacto knife