Wood Block Printing - An Overview
Wood Block Printing
One of the earliest, if not the first type of printing ever invented. Starting (or at least this is where the oldest pieces still around exist) in Japan it was a simple craft that required no machinery and only a few tools needed to cut the designs into the wood. The original presses were nothing more then flat pads used to press onto blocks or cloth. The color used was a mixture of water and paste made from rice flour that colors were added too. Each part of the process of the printing took place under one artist with craftsman under him doing each step of the process making sure everyone performed their task to his standards.
The tools used in Japan for wood block printing were a wooden block, damp sheets of paper on a board to accept the print, brushes, a dish with the color, dish with rice flour paste, printing pad, dish of water and a sponge. To begin the process a the sheets of paper are first moistened with a damp sponge. The print pad is slightly oiled, then the color is brushed over the impression. On top of the color, the rice flour paste is brushed onto the top. Instead of taking the pad and pressing it onto the paper, the paper is taken and placed on top of the the printing pad. Using a coil of cord covered in bamboo, pressure is applied and rolled from left to right. This process is repeated as many times as needed for the quantity of the piece printed. A block register can be added if the artist wants to use multiple colors on their piece.
The reason for the damp paper is to allow for multiple colors to be added without a need for drying. While this may seem odd and make it seem like the color will run into one another, it doesn't. In an upcoming article I will go into more in dept of the wood block craving, and the printing process.
One of the earliest, if not the first type of printing ever invented. Starting (or at least this is where the oldest pieces still around exist) in Japan it was a simple craft that required no machinery and only a few tools needed to cut the designs into the wood. The original presses were nothing more then flat pads used to press onto blocks or cloth. The color used was a mixture of water and paste made from rice flour that colors were added too. Each part of the process of the printing took place under one artist with craftsman under him doing each step of the process making sure everyone performed their task to his standards.
The tools used in Japan for wood block printing were a wooden block, damp sheets of paper on a board to accept the print, brushes, a dish with the color, dish with rice flour paste, printing pad, dish of water and a sponge. To begin the process a the sheets of paper are first moistened with a damp sponge. The print pad is slightly oiled, then the color is brushed over the impression. On top of the color, the rice flour paste is brushed onto the top. Instead of taking the pad and pressing it onto the paper, the paper is taken and placed on top of the the printing pad. Using a coil of cord covered in bamboo, pressure is applied and rolled from left to right. This process is repeated as many times as needed for the quantity of the piece printed. A block register can be added if the artist wants to use multiple colors on their piece.
The reason for the damp paper is to allow for multiple colors to be added without a need for drying. While this may seem odd and make it seem like the color will run into one another, it doesn't. In an upcoming article I will go into more in dept of the wood block craving, and the printing process.
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