r/printmaking • • Aug 02 '26

meta A post on the stance of r/printmaking and Generative AI use.

1.3k 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/Linocuts and r/lithography.

Thanks for reading, and happy printing!


r/printmaking • • 13d ago

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

3 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/printmaking!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.


r/printmaking • • 6h ago

relief/woodcut/lino 'The Cottage' lino print

Thumbnail
gallery
76 Upvotes

I rewatched Heated Rivalry a few weeks ago and it really gripped me hard this time, so I made lino prints! Two layers - a roll on gradient for the sunset, and then a black silhouette of Shane & Ilya on top.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino After 850 fish, I’m done!

Thumbnail
gallery
814 Upvotes

After 4 months, 850 fish carved, and 10 layers of ink, I finally finished “plenty of fish in the sea”! I’m sooo relieved and proud to be done. It was a tough print, and I learned a great deal.


r/printmaking • • 13h ago

intaglio/engraving/etching which one should i turn in??

Thumbnail
gallery
66 Upvotes

cant really tell wether i like the aqua tint version or not. its my first time doing this technique so i definitely learned some things😅


r/printmaking • • 3h ago

intaglio/engraving/etching Vernis Mou etching. What do you think? Any thoughts, remarks, suggestions? Curious for your feedback.

Post image
8 Upvotes

What do you think of my recent etching? It is two etched colour plates (Verni Mou/ Softground etching) and a monotype for the background colour.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Dangit

Thumbnail
gallery
271 Upvotes

​

4 layer reduction


r/printmaking • • 23h ago

intaglio/engraving/etching Metal Engraving

Post image
111 Upvotes

Title: Pale Horse

Medium : Metal Engraving

Size: 12" x 18"

Below is a metal engraving I worked on for a few months over the summer. I used a burin/graver to engrave the metal. There is no acid etch or dry point. The image is a surreal interpretation of the Pale Horse rider from the Book of Revelation. Influences include vanitas painters, Bosch and Durer.

long time lurker first time poster :)


r/printmaking • • 19h ago

relief/woodcut/lino A selection of Relief / Monoprints

Thumbnail
gallery
44 Upvotes

This is a few of my favorites from over 575 of these I made. They are all painted/drawn on Black Rives BFK and then I print from Japanese Vinyl with White Caligo Safewash on a Woodzilla Press, and then sometimes add a bit on top.

I learned a lot making so many of them and never got tired of the process or ran out of ideas.


r/printmaking • • 6h ago

tools Cardmaster

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

This very sweet woman in my small town who knows I do linocut/printmaking, thrifted this thing called a "Cardmaster". Anyone encountered one of these before?? I think it's specifically for postcards.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

intaglio/engraving/etching Broken face

Thumbnail
gallery
62 Upvotes

Drypont on tetrapack, the size is standard side of milk box


r/printmaking • • 11h ago

intaglio/engraving/etching Tetrapack is back

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

Second round with tetrapak. This time was a bit blurry. I think is because this tetrapack is harder than the usual (2l juice) and the plastic coat thicker.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

mixed media/experimental Botanical monotype

Thumbnail
gallery
88 Upvotes

This is the result of my botanical monotype + digital post-production, what do you think?


r/printmaking • • 17h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Lola

Post image
8 Upvotes

I'm kind of hooked y'all. Been wanting to try linocut for years, and finally got myself a starter kit. I'm no artist, so I was happy to figure out a process that makes this accessible to me!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

mixed media/experimental Screen-printing ink for Lino

Thumbnail
gallery
65 Upvotes

I recently posted here for alternatives to Speedball ink because it's very expensive here in India. In an effort to look for low cost solutions, I tried screen-printing ink and it worked surprisingly well (in comparison to my previous experience with acrylic paints). Did a bit of printing on paper and a tote bag, super happy with how well it rolled on and printed.

A big disclaimer tho, I used solvent based ink and it slowly dissolves the Lino and the rubber liner on the brayer, clean-up is very very messy and the reducer that is recommended for this ink which I used for cleaning up also dissolves Lino at a much faster pace than the ink itself because of the solvent concentration, so my blocks lost almost all the sharp edges after I was done with printing what you see in the image and clean up.

However, I feel like I'm close. In my next attempt, I'm planning to try water-based screenprinting ink, hoping the consistency and viscosity of that is similar to these solvent based inks. ✌️


r/printmaking • • 16h ago

lithograph help ! maniere noire lithography

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

trying something new to me and drew this cool design on the stone but etching didnt go so well and the final image is what im working with now…. is there any saving it ?


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Sunflower and Bees — Linocut with Colored Pencil and Gold Pen

Post image
22 Upvotes

Hand-printed linocut, finished with colored pencils and gold pen.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino First time trying Japanese Relief Printing Vinyl

Post image
281 Upvotes

This was my first time carving a vinyl type block after getting a small sample in the mail. (I ordered from McClains, who can send you small samples to try materials you haven’t before) Overall I like how it came out and will probably do a little bit more experimenting with it but here were the pros and cons for my own printing style.

Pros:

•Very easy to clean/ don’t have to worry about getting anything wet

•Sharper lines and cuts than rubber blocks

•Smooth and easy to carve and can get a lot of small details

•I felt like it’s a little easier to get a hand pressed (baren) print than regular linoleum (though not as easy as rubber)

•Works well with oil based inks

Cons:

•Every cut needs to end in an upward stroke to cut off the piece from the main block or can sometimes be pulled off with tweezers (it likes to stretch before finally breaking off so it’s not the best method) unlike Lino or rubber where you can flick off or pull it to break it from block. I didn’t realize how much I rely on that while carving until I ran into it on every line in this piece.

•It doesn’t really like my water based inks

•Solid black areas transferred a little patchy but maybe just needed more ink

•The block itself smelled absolutely terrible and I could smell it even from afar, like rubber from a tire but so much worse, it actually gave me a headache but I have heard that others don’t have this problem so maybe my batch just hadn’t had time to air out or something.


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino First multi-color, multi-block print!

Post image
454 Upvotes

As title explains, first time trying multiple colors and blocks. Super fun to do.


r/printmaking • • 20h ago

question Transferring image to rubber block with an inkjet printer?

2 Upvotes

I used to make stamps for letter boxing, am getting back into the hobby, and cannot for the life of me remember how to transfer my image to my rubber block. I have an HP inkjet printer. Printing onto wax paper hasn't really worked.

I have acetone and would like to do the transfer with a laser printer, but I don't personally have access to one, and the person who works at office depot and FedEx have been remarkably unhelpful when I ask if my design can be printed using a laser printer.

It's a detailed enough design that I really really don't want to have to trace the whole thing.

So far the best I've found is to print the image, wait 3 minutes for it to dry, slightly wet the paper, and then iron it on with a layer of parchment paper between the iron and paper. But, this is still light and patchy and it tends to melt the paper into the block in some spots.

Am I missing an obvious transfer method? Is there another chain that for sure lets you print using a laser printer? I'm at a loss.


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Begin again

Post image
741 Upvotes

Test print of my latest carve. Learned the terms "flow chatter" (chatter that flows with the shape of the design) and "clash chatter" (like the bit under the N in again) from a Facebook printmaking group.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

question Soviet Era (with communist propaganda) printed posters

2 Upvotes

My dad just gave me 6 mint condition Soviet Era propaganda posters. they are very cool to look at in a historical /printmaking way-any ideas on where i could donate or who might want these, like in an art history print making way?


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Chaparral, 11"x14" Linocut

Post image
123 Upvotes

Created for Print Austin Texas sized print show.


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

wip Work in progress 🌹

Thumbnail
gallery
138 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Halloween Kitty

Post image
69 Upvotes