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Lesson 2 of 7
  • Year 11

Advancing relief printing: techniques and applications

I can apply advanced relief printing techniques, including layering, registration, and texture, to create a refined graphic print.

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View unit
Lesson 2 of 7
New
New
  • Year 11

Advancing relief printing: techniques and applications

I can apply advanced relief printing techniques, including layering, registration, and texture, to create a refined graphic print.

Download all

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Relief printing can be advanced using layering, reduction techniques, and texture plate applications.
  2. Precision in registration is vital to produce professional multi-layered prints.
  3. Experimentation with texture plates and surfaces enhances creative outcomes.

Keywords

  • Registration - aligning layers of a print accurately when printing multiple colours or blocks

  • Relief printing - a printmaking process where raised surfaces carry ink to create an image

  • Reduction printing - a relief method where one block is progressively cut away to print multiple colours

  • Texture plate - a surface designed to add patterns or textures to a print

Common misconception

More ink always produces stronger, better prints.

Too much ink causes smudging and loss of detail; even, thin layers produce cleaner and sharper results.


To help you plan your year 11 art and design lesson on: Advancing relief printing: techniques and applications, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Model registration and reduction clearly with step-by-step visuals; encourage pupils to print test runs before final attempts to refine technique and reduce mistakes.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Lino/soft-cut printing blocks. Brayers/rollers. Lino carving tools. Printing inks. Texture plates/surfaces (fabric, cardboard, string). Printing paper. Aprons, gloves.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the main principle of relief printing?

Ink is painted directly onto the paper.
Ink is pressed through a stencil.
Ink is transferred from recessed lines.
Correct answer: Ink is applied to raised surfaces only.

Q2.
Why is registration important in multi-layered printing?

It prevents smudges during printing.
Correct answer: It ensures each colour layer aligns correctly.
It helps the ink dry faster.
It makes carving easier.

Q3.
What does "reduction printing" involve?

Correct answer: cutting away parts of the block after each print run
adding texture plates to one block
using two blocks side by side
printing without using a brayer

Q4.
You must have a printing press to make any type of print.

Correct Answer: False, Incorrect

Q5.
Which of these tools is used to roll ink onto a block?

baren
Correct answer: brayer
etching needle
pliers

Q6.
Why might an artist use texture plates in their printmaking?

to make carving quicker
Correct answer: to add depth, variety, and originality
to stop the ink drying too fast
to avoid using multiple colours

Additional material

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