- published: 09 Mar 2011
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Woodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper.
As a method of printing on cloth, the earliest surviving examples from China date to before 220.
Ukiyo-e is the best known type of Japanese woodblock art print. Most European uses of the technique on paper are covered by the art term woodcut, except for the block-books produced mainly in the 15th century.
The wood block is carefully prepared as a relief matrix, which means the areas to show 'white' are cut away with a knife, chisel, or sandpaper leaving the characters or image to show in 'black' at the original surface level. The block was cut along the grain of the wood. It is only necessary to ink the block and bring it into firm and even contact with the paper or cloth to achieve an acceptable print. The content would of course print "in reverse" or mirror-image, a further complication when text was involved. The art of carving the woodcut is technically known as xylography, though the term is rarely used in English.
Ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking with Keizaburo Matsuzaki
Woodblock Carving and Printing
Simple Block Printing — [tutorial]
Woodcut Printing 1450-1520
Japanese Woodblock Printing with Paul Binnie
Japanese Woodblock printing at Edinburgh Printmakers
Ukiyoe Heroes (21) : Making the 'I Choose You' woodblock print
Woodcut Process
Woodcut Printmaking Basics: 4 - Multi Block/color printing
Woodblock Printing demonstration with Reuben Saunders and Leon Loughridge