A BUILD-IT-YOURSELF PRINTING PRESS
FOR KITCHEN TABLE RELIEF PRINTING
WHAT IS IT?
The LARK is simple open-source press for woodcut, linocut, or any other relief printing. It requires ≈ $80 in materials and uses common tools to construct. (Tools are not included in the cost estimate.) Free instructions are below!
COOL, BUT, LIKE, WHAT IS IT?
Oh, oh, oh, I see what you mean! The LARK consists of a rolling pin, a tray, and some wooden inserts:
HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PRINT WITH THAT?
Easy!
1. Roll your ink out with a roller/brayer.
2. Apply ink to your block.
3. Place your block in the tray, ink side up.
4. Place your paper on the inked block.
5. Roll the rolling pin across the paper.
6. Pull the paper.
7. Repeat!
WHERE DO THE WOODEN INSERTS COME IN?
With any relief print, you achieve balance of detail and blackness (or other color) by using the right amount of pressure. With most presses this pressure comes from above, and the adjustment is either a change in height of the roller (as with etching presses) or the amount of force you use (as with book presses).
With The LARK, the change comes by adjusting the height of the block with these wooden inserts, plus sheets of paper for tiny adjustments. (The hole in the tray is so you can poke the inserts out easily.) This way all you need to do is ensure contact as you roll the rolling pin across the tray, rather than pressing down from above as you roll.
WHAT ABOUT PRESS BLANKETS?
Great idea! I bought some small pieces of quilt batting from a local fabric store, and they distribute the pressure for an even better print. It’s an inexpensive approach, so buy a few and test them out (or see if a quilter friend has some scraps).
WHAT ABOUT LETTERPRESS?
I’m currently testing this out and will update with details soon!
BUT DOES IT WORK THOUGH? LIKE, DOES IT REALLY WORK, FOR REAL?
Heck, yes! It may not achieve a quality of print you’d call “fine printing”, but The LARK is a great option for kitchen table printers and other folks who want to do good, fast work without the enormous investment required by standard equipment.
WHAT IF I LIKE HAND-BURNISHING MY PRINTS? WHAT THEN??
Then keep it up! The LARK is only meant as a replacement for hand-burnishing if you (like me) are bad at it and/or impatient. Folks who are good hand-burnishers may find it useful for quick proofing, but that’s conjecture.
OKAY, BUT WHY “THE LARK”?
Because I first designed it on a bit of whim! And birds are neat.
Printed with The LARK
Full instructions may be downloaded here:
DOWNLOAD – (v. 1.3)
Live in central NC? Buy a fully-constructed press from me!
Note: These plans are not copyrighted! You can use, modify, and distribute them all you want! You can sell prints you make with the press or even presses you construct with it! (Please don’t sell the instructions themselves! Also I’d love to know if you make any improvements!)
Thanks to Steve Garst at Provisional Press for providing the inspiration to create my own device in the form of his own open-source press plans, and whose design inspired mine.
Printed something cool with The LARK? Send it to me at patrick.d.holt@gmail.com, and I’ll add it to my gallery of prints!
Patrick Holt 