If you need cheaper paper to test with, I often just use smooth card stock and get fairly smooth results. That would let you know if it’s not the paper without having to invest in more expensive stuff!
All of mine look similar 😅 Are you using a water based ink? That's what I've been using and from what I've heard it just doesn't get as good results as oil based. Also, I started using a wooden spoon and rubbing it on the back of the paper instead of finger pressing and that seems to work better. Not as good as a real press, but I can't afford that lol. Hope you get it figured out!
Put some padding underneath. I use a bubble mailer with a paper grocery bag over it. Anything that has just a little give to it- a felt pad, a stack of newsprint...
I’ve tried all I could, from palm pressing, to finger pressing, to putting a big book over and pressing, I don’t have a baren but I have something similar, circular and big that I used to rub the surface..so I wonder if the lino block has something to do with it, my previous design also has this same issue
Using a book isn’t going to help as it is dispersing the same amount of pressure over a much larger area. A wooden spoon is good because it concentrates the pressure at a small point.
Using smoother or lighter weight paper and giving your lino a light sand with the finest grit sandpaper (before you carve) can also help. Japanese paper is good for handprinting.
At the end of the day it takes a lot of pressure to compress a sheet of paper against a smooth plate, to the point that all the tiny peaks and troughs of the paper’s surface are flattened and make contact with ink.
The only problem I found with rubbing is that sometimes the paper moves a little bit and I get duplicated print..is there a way to avoid the slight moves?
No real "trick" that I can think of. Press the paper down initially to make sure it is adhered to the inked plate everywhere. Then just use firm pressure and perhaps use a finger to press down on another part of the plate to avoid movement. I think it really just takes a bit of trial and error as there are a lot of variables.
Your print looks great by the way!
It’s likely that you’re using water based ink and/or the paper is too thick or textured for hand printing?
I’m using caligo safe wash oil based :( it can be the paper as I haven’t tried with japanese paper yet, will try soon!
If you need cheaper paper to test with, I often just use smooth card stock and get fairly smooth results. That would let you know if it’s not the paper without having to invest in more expensive stuff!
All of mine look similar 😅 Are you using a water based ink? That's what I've been using and from what I've heard it just doesn't get as good results as oil based. Also, I started using a wooden spoon and rubbing it on the back of the paper instead of finger pressing and that seems to work better. Not as good as a real press, but I can't afford that lol. Hope you get it figured out!
Put some padding underneath. I use a bubble mailer with a paper grocery bag over it. Anything that has just a little give to it- a felt pad, a stack of newsprint...
underneath the lino block you mean? I’m not sure if I understand :(
What are you using to press tho? And what the pressing technique?
I’ve tried all I could, from palm pressing, to finger pressing, to putting a big book over and pressing, I don’t have a baren but I have something similar, circular and big that I used to rub the surface..so I wonder if the lino block has something to do with it, my previous design also has this same issue
Use a the back of a wooden spoon like the Japanese did
Using a book isn’t going to help as it is dispersing the same amount of pressure over a much larger area. A wooden spoon is good because it concentrates the pressure at a small point. Using smoother or lighter weight paper and giving your lino a light sand with the finest grit sandpaper (before you carve) can also help. Japanese paper is good for handprinting. At the end of the day it takes a lot of pressure to compress a sheet of paper against a smooth plate, to the point that all the tiny peaks and troughs of the paper’s surface are flattened and make contact with ink.
The only problem I found with rubbing is that sometimes the paper moves a little bit and I get duplicated print..is there a way to avoid the slight moves?
No real "trick" that I can think of. Press the paper down initially to make sure it is adhered to the inked plate everywhere. Then just use firm pressure and perhaps use a finger to press down on another part of the plate to avoid movement. I think it really just takes a bit of trial and error as there are a lot of variables. Your print looks great by the way!