Barens are instruments used for applying pressure to the back of the paper as a means of transferring your image from the block to the paper without the use of a press.

A monotype print is generally only an edition of one printed from a painting on a non absorbent surface such as glass, metal or plastic. There are now specially designed inks suitable for use solely in this process.

The degree and fineness and detail is not only determined by the artist but also by the choice of plate. The character of the work varies enormously depending on whether the artist chooses to use wood and whether that wood is hard or soft, linoleum , vinyl or rubber. We have a selection of different relief plates that provide the artist with this flexibility of choice.

The inks available for relief printing are either oil based or water based. The oil based inks in the past have been the most commonly used and consists of pigment suspended in an oil vehicle, usually plate oil. The inks used for relief should be dense heavy bodied, finely ground and roll out evenly. Water based inks for relief are now becoming very popular as they enable artists to reduced the amount of harmful chemicals in their studio.

The tools employed in relief priniting have remained simple throughout the ages, however different effects may be obtained if the artist chooses to go beyond the simple knife tools. The total range of image making possibilities is only limited by the artists imagination.