Printmaking Tutorial Page 2/9 - Lino Preparation

If your lino is bought on a roll it will have a slight curve on it. Cut the size of lino you need from the roll as soon as possible and leave it to flatten. It may need help by placing weights [heavy books ??] on top. It must be totally flat.

Once flat it must be ‘cleaned’. Lino has a coating to help it stay waterproof. If you are using oil based inks this is not such a problem but with water based it is. Pour a very small amount of water onto the lino and you will see it bead demonstrating the water and ink repelling nature of the coating. This will result in patchy printing or even areas of the final picture with no ink on. Use a piece of wet and dry sandpaper. With a small amount of water on the lino, sand the lino sheet making sure you cover the whole area. You may have to keep adding small amounts of water as you get a paste up. Wipe the block down with a clean cloth to remove the paste and then put the lino aside to dry. See picture below.

If you put water on the block now it will not ‘bead’ which demonstrates that you have removed the water resistant coating.

Sanding the Lino