To block print with an XPS foam block using a printing table, you will etch a design into the foam with a blunt tool, ink the raised surface, and then use your printing table to apply even pressure for a clean transfer.
Materials Needed
- XPS foam block
- Block printing ink (water-soluble is great for easy cleanup) or fabric paint
- Brayer (roller)
- Ink plate/palette (a smooth, flat, non-absorbent surface like glass or an old tile)
- Printing paper or fabric
- Dull pencil, ballpoint pen, or other blunt stylus for etching
- Printing table or press (alternatively, a baren or a wooden spoon for manual pressure)
- Scrap paper or newspaper for practice and protecting your work surface
Instructions
1. Prepare Your Design
- Sketch: Draw your design on a piece of paper first. Remember the image will be mirrored when printed, so any text must be drawn backward.
- Transfer (Optional but helpful): Place your drawing face-down on the foam block. Use a dull pencil to trace over the lines firmly, creating a faint guideline on the foam.
- Etch the Foam: Use a dull pencil or a ballpoint pen to incise your design into the foam. The lines and areas you press down will not hold ink and will appear as the paper’s color in the final print (white or unprinted). Press down hard enough to create a deep groove without puncturing the foam all the way through.
2. Prepare for Printing
- Set up the Table: Cover your printing table with newspaper or a protective mat to keep it clean.
- Prepare the Ink: Squeeze a small amount of block printing ink onto your ink plate/palette.
- Load the Brayer: Roll the brayer through the ink in a small rectangle, moving up and down and side to side until the roller is evenly coated and you hear a slightly sticky, “velcro-like” sound.
3. Ink and Print
- Ink the Block: Roll the inked brayer over your XPS foam block, ensuring all the raised parts of the design are evenly covered with ink. Be careful not to press so hard that the ink fills the grooves of your design.
- Position the Paper: Place your printing paper (or fabric) on a clean section of the table. If your printing table has registration guides, align the paper or the block accordingly for precise placement.
- Apply Pressure with the Printing Table: Place your inked foam block face down onto the paper. Use the printing table press to apply even, firm pressure across the entire surface of the block. If you are using a simple table and no press, a baren or the back of a wooden spoon can be used to rub the back of the paper, applying pressure manually.
- Reveal the Print: Carefully lift the paper from the foam block to reveal your print.
4. Repeat and Clean
- Make More Prints: Reapply ink to your foam block as needed and repeat the process to create multiple prints.
- Clean Up: Water-soluble inks can be easily washed off the foam block and tools with water and a rag, allowing for reuse. Allow the prints to dry completely (this usually takes a few hours).
