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Although I'm no expert on the subject, I did a fair amount of block printing back during the 60s and early 70s. To begin to understand the process, first think of a small cube of wood, say two inches by two inches, by two inches. Also imagine that the faces are sanded so that each is a smooth flat plane [this is important so that all of the image gets transfered to the printing paper]. Then imagine [actually you can practice this explanation to help your understanding] pressing one of those smooth faces firmly onto an ink pad, like is used for office stamps, to get the face "inked up." Then firmly press that inked face onto a clean sheet of paper. When the block is removed, there will be a two inch square image [the full face of the block] imprinted on the paper. Now imagine drawing a one inch diameter circle on one of the faces, and then, using an Exacto Knife, or any other method of cutting away of the wood, and trim off about an 8th of an inch of wood, all around the outside of the circle. That will leave a round flat surface standing above the newly cut face of the block. When that face of the block is inked, as in the first example, and again pressed onto the sheet of paper, it will leave an image which will be a round, fully filled in circle. Now imagine cutting a star pattern and a rectangle pattern on another face of the block. The inked image from that carving will be a star and a rectangle printed at the same time. Using this technique, amazingly fine art prints can be made. The only critical points to this basically simple process are: 1. The "printing," or contact surfaces of the different images on the same face of the block MUST be in the same smooth plane in order to fully and evenly transfer the ink [image] when pressed to the paper. 2. Also, if doing any object for which left to right orientation is necessary [such as letters or numbers] the image must be reversed when applied and cut into the block face. Since wood can be difficult to carve, this process is often done more easily using special blocks which usually can be bought already prepared at art supply stores. These are called "linoleum blocks." You can make your own by gluing smooth linoleum onto smooth, flat faces of any size block you want. It is much easier to carve the linoleum face and to remove material where you don't want ink to be picked up and where you don't want ink to print on the paper. I may have forgotton to cover some points, but with luck, an expert will come along to improve this answer. Don't worry about screwing it up, for if you start with free, simple, plain wood blocks from thrown away wood scraps, you can't really "ruin" anything, so just play around with the process until you get the hang of it. Good luck.
What else can I help you with?
When did Marco Polo travel to Taklamakan Desert?
to get the information of woodblock printing
Why was the woodblock printing important?
woodblock printing is important because it was faster for people to copy down information than making copies from hand( i.e., writing down words vs stamping down pages)
When was woodblock printing invented?
The printing dates back to China date from 220, and from Egypt to the 4th century.
What types of art and literatiture were popular during the period of sang and tang dynasty?
Woodblock printing, poems, and mosAICS
What inventions were made in the Yuan dynasty?
water clock, paper making, compass, printing (both woodblock and movable type).
What are facts about woodblock printing?
woodblock printing was invented in the 800 AD by japanese people
Where did woodblock printing start?
it started in china
When did Japanese woodblock printing start?
20th
Did china invent woodblock printing?
yes
How has woodblock printing impacted your world?
Woodblock printing has impacted the entire world. Because of woodblock printing, it became easier for peasants and the common people to learn how to read. This influenced them because they were able to become more educated. This education led to revolutions which led to freedoms for the people, as well as the invention of other methods of printing for mass production. If not for the woodblock printer, the world may have turned out to be an entirely different place.
When did Marco Polo travel to Taklamakan Desert?
to get the information of woodblock printing
Why was the woodblock printing important?
woodblock printing is important because it was faster for people to copy down information than making copies from hand( i.e., writing down words vs stamping down pages)
What is the purpose of Japanese woodblock prints?
There is none
Where did wood block printing originate?
The earliest woodblock printed fragments are from China.
What was the impact of WoodBlock Printing?
Woodblock printing revolutionized the way information was disseminated, making books more accessible to a wider audience and enabling the spread of ideas and knowledge. It played a key role in the development of literacy and education in many societies. Additionally, it laid the foundation for the printing press and modern printing technologies.
Why cant people live without woodblock printing?
They can and did live quite happily without it.
How are the inventions of paper money and woodblock printing have been linked?
Paper money and woodblock printing are linked as woodblock printing was used to produce paper money. In ancient China, woodblocks were used to print text and images on paper money to prevent counterfeiters from producing fake currency. This printing technique allowed for intricate designs and secure authentication features to be included in paper money, making it a widely accepted form of currency.
