One of the biggest questions I receive is: "What brayers should I use for linocut printmaking?", or rather, "What tool is that?". Relief printmaking is comprised of an array of tools, and I plan to write a comprehensive guide on them soon. There is the type of linoleum you choose to work with, for which I have already written a useful blogpost to make your choice. Then we have carving tools, which I also plan to write about, then brayers (the topic of this blog), printing presses (you can also press with your hand), printing inks (which I also plan to write about), and paper/material choice. The way you choose and combine all these tools and parts of the process dictates the quality of your final print.
What will your work look like with my advice?
To give you an impression of my work, I am someone who makes fairly detailed prints, and I use my smallest carving tools for them, but I never make the finest marks possible, such as almost scratching the plate. I like clean lines, and I love free inking, where the colours might at times bleed into each other, so I will include the very fine brayers I use to achieve this.
I also want fairly clean and opaque coverage throughout, but don't mind the odd small spot where ink might be more transparent, which I think give prints their unique quality.
You can find all my prints on my shop here: https://www.moatzart.co.uk/limited-edition-linocut-prints, and have a better look at these details.
Soft vs Hard Rubber?
One rule of thumb that is often mentioned by manufacturers and printmakers, is that softer rubber will make it easier to ink up your plate correctly and quickly, but it might "drown" some of your finer lines in the process. And harder rubber will help your details shine through, but it might take a while to roll out the ink on them evenly, and I have definitely found this to be true, to some extent.
Given that I work primarily with battleship grey lino, I feel that I need a softer rubber which adheres the ink better to it. But I also think in general softer rubber helps ink adhere so much better and more evenly, also quicker and easier for beginners.
To combat any risk of details not showing through, I try to make sure the pressure on my press is less than needed, and if printing by hand, this is not a worry at all, as you are using the least amount of pressure possible anyway, so more ink might actually help get a clearer print anyway, and the details will always show through.
My List of Brayers I recommend and use
I am not being paid to recommend any of these, but if you purchase a roller through Jackson's Art Supplies I will receive a small commission!
CWR Rubber Brayers - 8/10
Cost: 10/10, Durability: 5/10, Ink spreading: 9/10
Saying this, I would like to start with my favourite all time roller, and the most cost effective:
These are without a doubt my most used brayers in my studio. They only have two small issues which affect their quality, one that they can snap out of their mechanism, but are easily put back (though this is annoying if it happens in the middle of printing). And two, that with time, the rubber can warp a little, causing the ink not to be uniform, but it just means you need a few more runs over the block.
Neither of these have been major issues for me, as I really like the way they deposit ink, and I can't beat them for the price. I am someone who prints with a lot of different colours at once, so while I really appreciate the few forever rollers I own, I don't mind keeping quite a few of these around for that reason. And even though they get ruined quicker than other (though I have some that have lasted four years of continued use), I still can't beat their quality for the price.
I also really like their size as someone who prints very small sections without dividing the block into a puzzle. So I have about 15 of these, and use them every time I print, without fail! There is no better roller I would recommend for a beginner, unless you are looking for a more permanent piece of equipment!
Detail Wooden Rollers - 8/10
Price: 8/10, Durability: 8/10, Ink spread: 8/10
These are my lifesavers especially when it comes to printing detail! I love the way they deposit ink, they have the soft rubber I have been mentioning, and they are also really well made. It took me a while to invest in them, and now I regret any moment I printed without them! They will really help you print small sections, without having to divide your block up, and I am someone who favours keeping the block as intact as possible.
Ironbridge Printmakers Soft Rubber Rollers - 10/10
Price: 9/10, Durability: 10/10, Ink spread: 10/10
If you are looking for a well built, forever roller, these are my favourites. They are so strong, made to last, and I love the prongs on the back for setting it down face up when inked. The soft roller spreads ink really evenly and quickly every time, so if you print a lot in a day like I do (I have printed 200 prints before in one day), then this is for you!
They are heavier and bulkier, but this makes them great to work with and I like using then for larger prints, that are uniform in colour. They clean easily (though I have managed to stain mine, but with a home studio I have in the past neglected my tools, which I now regret). They provide consistent results every time with little effort.
Hawthorne Printmakers Rollers - 9/10
Price: 10/10, Durability: 9/10, Ink spread: 8/10
If you are looking for a sturdy forever roller, but on a smaller budget, and you need something wider as well, I cannot recommend this enough.
It is an excellent roller for an excellent price point, comparable to the best I have tried.
Ink is smooth every time with little to no effort, it is easy to clean and maintain, and so well built. It always makes me wonder how they are keeping the price point so low.
Jacksons Rubber Brayer - 7/10
Price: 9/10, Durability: 8/10, Ink spread: 5/10
This is a pretty sturdy roller and I really recommend it for it's price. It is a bit of a harder rubber which I have mentioned before I am not the biggest fan of, but if you want to give harder rubber a try, this is a really good option.
The ink will still be really consistent every time, you might have to take a little longer working the ink. For me, it just doesn't go as smoothly and reliably as others on hessian backed lino. I have mentioned I like to print volume, and have something which gives consistent results quickly, with no thought.
I definitely recommend this as a beginner roller much more than others on the market.
Japanese Rubber Brayer - 8/10
Price: 8/10, Durability: 8/10, Ink spread: 8/10
This is a new roller I have recently tried out as well, which was sent to me by Hickman Design Shop. It has a bit of a harder rubber, and I was surprised with how much I like it.
It works really well with every type of lino, is well built and sturdy. It requires a bit of upkeep so the rubber doesn't get damaged, so it should be cleaned well and quickly, and stored correctly, but this is true of all pricier equipment really.
The ink spreads smoothly, and if you wanted to try a harder rubber and let those details shine through, this is perfect.
Essdee Brayers - 5/10
Price: 8/10, Durability: 5/10, Ink spread: 4/10
I have to be honest and say that these are some of my least favourite rollers. I think they are the go to for many beginners, but hopefully I have shown some better options out there. I have included a link to the best one in the series, which is good if you need a wider roller that can cover more ground, for a really low price point comparatively.
The sponge roller meant for fabric is actually more decent, but a little tougher to maintain if you use professional oil based inks with it.
Personally, I have the biggest vendetta against the smaller red rollers. I see them often, but they are really not my favourite for the results compared to the price.
I should say that these tools get the job done, but I often think that especially for beginners, having good tools will make a big difference quickly in your work.
Conclusion
I hope this guide was helpful to you in making a decision on which brayer you should use for your linocut printmaking. I have tried to be as detailed as possible, but please ask me more in the comments. I love sharing my tips with you, and helping you get the best out of your prints, with the least amount of effort.
Linocut printmaking is truly the most relaxed and beautiful activity and process, once you have the right tools, and know exactly how to use them. You can then just concentrate on letting your imagination run free.
Where to buy:
https://hickmandesign.co.uk/buy/equipment/lino-printing-supplies/Â - these guys have lots of printmaking supplies, including the stunning japanese harder rubber roller I mentioned!
https://www.jacksonsart.com/colour/printmaking?utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=1656247&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=1656247&awc=79140_1728050976_41d5dcdb60567112b9bb1bf2e4afaa8b - Jackson's might have pretty much anything else! - if you use this affiliate link I will make a small percentage from the sale! <3
More Resources:
My article on how to choose your lino, talking about all the different types of lino available
Another helpful article from Handprinted on different lino blocks:Â - very good for showing you the different marks you can make on the blocks
Handprinted uk have an incredible blog as a resource for materials
Follow me on instagram, where I have so many videos on all the different aspects of printmaking in my "tools" story section!
Other:
More Blogs by Moatzart:
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