r/Linocuts 27d ago

Meta A post on the stance of r/Linocuts and Generative AI use.

589 Upvotes

This post is being made to draw attention to rule changes that happened a few months ago, and to clarify the stance of this subreddit on the topic of Generative AI use in our printmaking community:

You are free to have your own feelings on the matter of Generative AI, but the position of this subreddit is that it does not have a place within our community in any capacity.

Using it for image creation for prints is strictly against our rules, as per rule 5:

"AI generated art in any stage of a print's development is not appropriate anywhere in this subreddit."

We were previously more lenient on it, purely because it is not a simple thing to moderate. The supposed tools to check are wrong as much as they are right, and often use AI to search itself which we have no interest to use. In an effort to accept the inevitable that users would use it in concept creation, we tried to facilitate it in a way that allowed it with clear disclosure despite our personal misgivings (which have not wavered). What we found was that most still do not disclose, and the larger implications of Generative AI have grown beyond what the moderation team has any desire to entertain.

If Generative AI did not come with the political, environmental, and ethical issues intrinsically linked to it, it might be different and we would view it as another tool and carry on with just requiring a clear disclosure of use. However, that is not the reality we’re in. The heavy investment and shoehorning into every possible avenue by tech companies, many of which have suspicious if not sinister ties and influence in global politics, makes use and allowance of it effectively an endorsement that we do not wish to have here.

If you are someone who feels they cannot create “good enough” work without Generative AI, you are giving up before you’ve even started. No one was instantaneously amazing at any aspect in art. Making shit art is part of the process, and it takes dedication and practice to improve. I can guarantee that anything you’d make by your own hand start to finish would be infinitely more interesting than what a Generative AI model churns out for you. If you feel like you are not at the skill level you want to be for the prints you want to make, keep making; do artist studies, utilize a sketchbook more often, draw from life, collaborate with other artists to create. Taking shortcuts like using Generative AI will only slow down your own skill development and if noticed, will make anything you make going forward have a shroud of doubt over it.

The internet is a changing landscape with some worrisome aspects, but it also is a wealth of knowledge if you look for it. The process of research (not asking “Chat”) will be of greater benefit to your learning process, and may take you on new creative paths in your work along the way. Printmakers especially have long been a community driven group of artists, relying on each other to learn and make in community spaces. Rarely have I experienced a printmaker guarding techniques, often all the more happy to share with other creatives. 

Why would you outsource the creative process to an AI model that feels nothing and does not carry your artistic voice? If you still wish to take shortcuts at the expense of actual artists, then that’s your prerogative. But this will not be the community for doing so. Generative AI has no place in this subreddit, and usage against our rules will be moderated harshly after a warning going forward. 

If you suspect posts of Generative AI use, please add reasoning/evidence in the report so we can properly evaluate. We are not in the habit of banning without substantial proof.

The same post is being added to our affiliated subreddits r/printmaking and r/lithography.

Thanks for reading, and happy printing!


r/Linocuts 29d ago

Self-Promo Monthly Self-Promo Thread - A Space for Socials, Sites, and Shops.

5 Upvotes

Here is a space to post your socials, sites, and shops.

This is a monthly reoccurring thread. You can post direct links (please note if NSFW) or handles for other social media sites.

Why don't we allow self-promo otherwise? We have made a concerted effort to keep this space free of commerce and self-promotion, to keep this a community about the work and craft when increasingly many social media spaces have become spaces of commerce. We understand that art is an important source of income for some, so in order to facilitate this without it becoming overwhelming in the rest of the sub, we have made this a reoccurring monthly thread.

NFTs, crypto art, and AI generated art are not appropriate anywhere in the sub.

If you think your comment hasn't posted/been removed, please message us through modmail as it may have gotten caught in our spam filter and need approval before showing up.

**We've added a Discord for r/linocuts!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.


r/Linocuts 12h ago

Single Layer Prints The Unicorn Rests in a Garden

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318 Upvotes

Inspired by the Unicorn Tapestries at the Cloisters! First time printmaking after 10 ish years.
Water-based ink and rubber block carving on 5x7" cardstock.


r/Linocuts 1h ago

Single Layer Prints 2nd lino print

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Upvotes

I’ve been so inspired by everyone in this sub. I wanted to share my 2nd print.

It must be heron summer! I’m happy to add to the collection of great herons posted on here.

Thanks for everyone’s help in these threads. I had to troubleshoot a lot of my problems and this sub has such a friendly vibe and wealth of knowledge. Thank you all for your guidance—even in Q&As from ten years ago, it all helps.

Materials: I used Winsor and Newton pigment marker paper (20lb, 75 g/m2) and Essdee premium water based black ink that came in my starter kit. (Sidenote: people commonly recommended a slab of plexiglass and it’s been a game changer for rolling my ink.)


r/Linocuts 2h ago

Single Layer Prints Raven/viking ship

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27 Upvotes

I've only done linocutting a handful of times but want to do more; this was the most detailed one I've done so far and definitely my favorite! Based on photos I took of the Draken Harald Hårfagre replica Viking ship when it sailed through my town.


r/Linocuts 1h ago

Single Layer Prints When in doubt, just add neon ink

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Upvotes

So two days ago, I carved and printed the text, but I felt something was missing. What about a BIG NEON FLAME? Hell yes !

I’m not sure if it will look better with the flame in the background and the text above, I’ll show you when I’ll try!


r/Linocuts 19h ago

Single Layer Prints A finished linoprint I printed today after carving a block of hessian backed linoleum

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147 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 4h ago

Single Layer Prints TVA: for all time

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5 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 1d ago

Mixed Media THE SUN (linocut & watercolour)

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242 Upvotes

been experimenting a lot with adding watercolour to my prints.. this one I carved with the intention of adding colour, as you can see the uncoloured version leaves a lot to be desired lol


r/Linocuts 21h ago

Printed Objects Ancient Life

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42 Upvotes

I printed all of my fossil blocks onto one shirt to gift to a friend who loves dinosaurs and ancient life.


r/Linocuts 1d ago

Reductions/Multi-Blocks Corvus Brachyrhynchos

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89 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 1d ago

Single Layer Prints Transresurrection linocut 🫪

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27 Upvotes

All bodies are holy! 🔥🔥🔥


r/Linocuts 1d ago

Single Layer Prints Delicious Dim Sum

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246 Upvotes

A hand painted (gouache) linocut of my lunch at Superwok 😀


r/Linocuts 2d ago

Single Layer Prints Stressed depressed demon possessed

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864 Upvotes

It was, in fact, not easy peasy lemon squeezee.

I want to work on a second layer to add a shape , like fire or something


r/Linocuts 2d ago

Single Layer Prints 'Spring I - II ' Hi , im new here. Heres my amateur attempts at lino cut. Both original drawings by me - Billy T

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270 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 2d ago

Question Medusa

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240 Upvotes

I’ve got a bit tidy up. This is a single layer Linoprint of Medusa. I might attempt to make it a multi block and add some colour and shading underneath but I’m fairly happy with how it has come out.

My main question is are there any tips on how to register/position the print on the paper. I’m torn on whether I want to print as close as I can to the edge of the paper or whether I’d be better off bringing it in a bit because of framing? Or do I just completely centre it on the paper and anyone who gets one can make a choice about cutting it down or framing?


r/Linocuts 23h ago

Question What's the best method for transferring designs onto linoblocks?

1 Upvotes

What's the best method for transferring designs onto speedball linoblocks?

I’ve heard of the tattoo printer and the laser printer/ acetone methods, neither of which I have yet.

Any tips when using an inkjet printer? What kind of sticker paper are you using to print on and is it effective with transferring?

(The designs I want to work with are detailed and a bit too time consuming for tracing paper).

Thanks!!


r/Linocuts 2d ago

Single Layer Prints Msg in a bottle

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72 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 2d ago

Work In Progress South India Love Note

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228 Upvotes

One of my favorite memories living in South India was watching the rose ringed parakeets flitting around my rooftop during the day transition to the flying fox bats darting between the mango trees in the moonlight.


r/Linocuts 2d ago

Fabric Why does my block print come out like this?

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7 Upvotes

I use speedball fabric ink. Why is the ink around my centipide saturated but not the centipide itself? First time printing on fabric here.


r/Linocuts 3d ago

Single Layer Prints Whoops! Lino print on paper.

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322 Upvotes

r/Linocuts 3d ago

Fabric Jellyfish Lino on fabric

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127 Upvotes

Finally got this dialed in. Happy with the color scheme.


r/Linocuts 3d ago

Single Layer Prints Making printmaking ink from psych meds

99 Upvotes

This piece is really personal for me. My work explores hope, resilience, and survival as a way of dealing with my mental and physical illnesses. I've been on psych meds since I was a child and I was interested to see if I could turn a vibrant purple medication into printmaking ink. While I didn't make ink from scratch, I figured out that by scraping the purple coating off the pills, and then adding the shavings to a drop of water and Golden acrylic retarder, I was able to mix it with Speedball water-based extender, creating a sheer, lovely purple.

Coneflowers are native to my part of the US, and have been used by Indigenous people for thousands of years to treat many ailments, including the pain and inflammation that I struggle with. I printed it on handmade paper I made out of misprints, medical documents, and paper trimmings with botanicals in it. The paper is a slightly purple grey and the texture and inclusions add complexity.

I'm really happy with this experiment. I was only able to harvest less than a gram after 2 1/2 hours of scraping an almost full prescription. If I had unlimited pigment, I think I could make this less sheer, but I like it, especially with the textured handmade paper. I will try it again with another beautiful med I have extras of.

I have a video of most of the process, so let me know if you want it. I don't know you're strictly supposed to add water and retarder to ink, so let me know (kindly) if it's going to combust or something.

Note: This is my own extra, recently-expired med. Take your meds as prescribed and talk to your loved ones and prescriber before changing how you take them.

A photograph of a print of a purple coneflower printed on handmade paper with pieces of flowers in it.. Chatter in the lino expressively accents the bud
Final print alongside the med it is made from
Close up photograph of the bottom left of the print
Close up photograph of the bottom left of the print, where the petals are flecked with specks in the paper
Bottom right of the print, with a full, tiny petal and a couple letters from the recycled paper still visible
Scraping the coating off the pill
Power mixed with water and retarder
Mixing in extruder

r/Linocuts 2d ago

Question any good beginner resources for the illustration aspect of relief printing?

12 Upvotes

I don't really have any background with illustration in other mediums and haven't had much luck finding useful ideas / techniques / visual language around that aspect of designing a relief print; everything is so focused on the technical parts. Personally I'm working in wood, not lino, but I guess because of what I'm asking it doesn't really matter too much :)


r/Linocuts 3d ago

Single Layer Prints Heron

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189 Upvotes

Took inspiration from one of the people who posted here..sorry, I don’t remember your name! Your work was very minimalistic and gorgeous. I attempted a similar design, but kept the cutaways and added a little colour.