DVB102 Image Design and Production
Week 7 Images (26-30)
#oneperday2023
Images 26 - 30: Lino Printing Your Identity
Last week students were asked to create a persuasive poster while manipulating the alternative form of image production known as Lino Printing. This exercise required students to manipulate the same method of image production to visualise their personal identity.
Materials
A4 Paper, Pencil, Lino Carving Tool, Lino, Screen Printing Ink
Techniques
Drawing, Sketching, Shading, Carving, Printing
Process
First, unique, individual interests were explored and combined to create designs for lino prints. Alternative designs were drafted and after critical analysis a print design was selected (See Figure 1 below). After selecting a design, the markings were carved into lino and printed on a medium using screen printing ink (See Figure 2). This process was repeated twice and with each print additional impressions were made to the lino and an alternative colour was used (See Figure 3 and Figure 4). Finally, the print was scanned and modified digitally to create a professional, clean lino print that accurately expressed an individuals identity (See Figure 5 and Figure 6).
Figure 1: Drafting Lino Print
Figure 2: Identity Lino Print (Black and White)
Figure 3: Identity Lino Print (Black and 1 Colour)
Figure 4: Identity Lino Print (Black and 2 Colours)
Reflection
After brainstorming, key interests of mine were selected and incorporated into a lino print design. My fondness for the beach, the comfort I feel in my bedroom and my interest in space had an obvious impact in my relief art. The design depicts a beach landscape, featuring a palm tree, sand, the ocean, and a bedroom setup that indirectly face to the sky where Saturn is visible. This design, while intricate, was easy to impress onto Lino and only required a single attempt. After printing in black and white, blue was added to give contrast to the ocean and the beautiful rings of Saturn. These features are engaging and overall I am impressed with what I have been able to create using an unconventional method of image making.
Strength
Leaving impressions on lino to accurately depict the intended design.
Challenge
Distributing the screen printing ink to leave a uniform make on the medium.
Figure 5: Identity Lino Print (Digitally Enhanced Black and White)
Figure 6: Identity Lino Print (Digital)
Reflection
After completing the lino prints, the results were scanned and digitally modified. The impressions left after printing were first removed and the product was layered over a white background to create a cleaner image. The dark details that remained were selected and filled with black to reduce the noise that remained after an untidy print. The results are impressive and perfectly resemble the initial design. After experimenting with the background, colour was added to give shade to the impression. Blue was again added to the ocean and a beige colour to the sand. Grey was used to create a natural shadow and the tree was coloured using a saturated green and brown. Finally, red was used to create a definitive pillow shape and a pinkish gradient was added to Saturn. While the result is unique, I am more satisfied with the results of the digitally enhanced black and white print.
Strength
Using digital software to remove impressions left by printing and reducing the noise on the print to create a solid black background.
Challenge
Filling the impressions with engaging colours
Weekly Reflection
This week I perfected my relief print technique and developed a better understanding of how the ink interacted with the medium. Previous experience relief work helped create intentional impressions which overall resulted in a polished final print. These exercises have ultimately given me confidence producing detailed images with an alternative, unconventional design technique and I feel confident implementing lino printing in future designs.
