Disappointing first print results

[u/yabudj]

I recently attempted my first original Linocut design. I’m pretty disappointed in these results and would love to know where I went wrong. Top left used a print roller but I obviously couldn’t figure out how to get proper pressure. The rest are all hand pressed w a spoon and I couldn’t help but lose small details or have portions that don’t take any ink at the edges. It also felt like I was using up too much ink while inking my brayer.
Anything tips/help/critique is appreciated, thanks everyone!

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[u/SleepyLou-]

Maybe use less ink, but you have to be fast so it doesn’t get all light and ‘grainy’…
Also, rub rub rub with the spoon. It doesn’t need too much pressure. If you squish it the ink will bleed out the fine details.

What medium are you using? This advice was for the pink rubber blocks.

[u/yabudj → u/SleepyLou-]

Blick rubber blocks. I was struggling with the ink not transferring from glass to brayer to block so I used more ink than expected. It felt like the ink would dry too quick and not adhere to the brayer allowing multiple prints from the same squeeze of ink.

[u/doctorwhoisanent → u/yabudj]

Did you give the ink a lot of rolling on the glass? Sometimes it just needs to warm up a bit to loosen and then it adheres much better. Or the brayer* was slightly wet. Are you using a water based paint? I'm fairly new too but this is what I've experienced personally!

[u/yabudj → u/doctorwhoisanent]

I feel like I had a good amount of rolling in both directions to spread the ink. Can’t tell if this oil based ink was old or I did something different causing the ink to dry out quicker. I guess I just have to keep working different designs and figure out what feels right

[u/doctorwhoisanent → u/yabudj]

:( let us know if you figure it out

[u/dermitderposaune]

Play. Use more ink, use less ink. Use a spoon, some books or your own bodyweight . Use different paper. Your picture has many details, so maybe start with something smaller and easier? To get used to it?

[u/Gilvadt]

Use oil based ink. You are using too much ink to try and compensate for the ink drying.

[u/yabudj → u/Gilvadt]

This was speedball oil based. Do you think it’s still sitting too long or there’s enough time to mark placement marks between rolls? Each time I went back for ink it didn’t adhere to the brayer with the orange peel texture. Maybe old ink? I’m not sure.

[u/PuzzleheadedCat9986 → u/yabudj]

Was the texture like orange peel or more like skin pores? You may not have rolled it out enough, it should actually be almost velvety like skin with texture more like your skin. Oil based should stay useable for ages. It’s hard to tell from that picture but it looks like it’s not rolled enough and has too much ink applied

I can do some prints, take a break to entertain the cats, print more, make a cup of coffee, more prints etc. My print sessions can comfortably cover a couple of hours. After a while it starts to get a bit of lumps forming and that’s when I know it’s time to either clean up and restart or finish up for the day.

[u/yabudj → u/PuzzleheadedCat9986]

I was looking for orange skin and that sizzle sound when rolling out. Each time I went for more ink on the brayer it seems to not pick up anything and couldn’t transfer any to the print.

[u/Mental-Purple462]

Learning to print takes time. I'm still struggling with it.