[INTRO: MUSIC PLAYING]

Prepare a non-porous surface to roll out ink.

A sheet of glass is ideal,

but glossy finger-painting paper also works easily.

Use a rubber brayer

that closely matches the size of your woodblock.

I’ll lay down a piece of glossy paper for this demo.

Tape the edges of your inking surface to a table

and apply a thin bead of ink equal

to the width of your brayer.

If your material is in a tube,

use a putty knife to scrape away the ink from the surface

if your material is in a can. Use a sweeping motion

with your hand as you remove the ink

and don’t dig deep down.

Roll the brayer across the surface,

applying medium downward force so the ink sticks.

Pick the brayer up at the end of the stroke

and return to start.

Repeat this process until the ink lays flat.

You should hear a sizzling sound as the roller passes

through the ink.

If not, add a couple more dabs.

The ink application should remain thin

and appear glossy in a slanted light.

Crackling sounds and goopy texture are bad.

It means there’s too much ink on the surface.

Scrape the excess away with a putty knife

and keep rolling until the surface spreads flat again.

You are now ready to apply ink to your woodblock.

Thank you for watching, and happy printing.

[OUTRO: MUSIC PLAYING]