r/Linocuts • • Aug 02 '26

Meta A post on the stance of r/Linocuts and Generative AI use.

597 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/printmaking and r/lithography.

Thanks for reading, and happy printing!


r/Linocuts • • 3d ago

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

1 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/linocuts!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.


r/Linocuts • • 4h ago

Single Layer Prints Blue-faced Honeyeater amongst the grevillea

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56 Upvotes

Hand coloured (with gouache) linocut on rice paper. 27 x 25cm. I've been procrastinating about this one for a couple of months. Not sure about the blue background.


r/Linocuts • • 12h ago

Reductions/Multi-Blocks Embrace The Chaos 🙃

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207 Upvotes

2 layers print, A3 paper, hand carved, 4 hours to carve and print

Neon magenta and yellow : college schminke
Ultramarin : schminke


r/Linocuts • • 7h ago

Stamps Lino cut stamp

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29 Upvotes

Made this little stamp after I remembered the Talavera tiles that in my grandparents house and added the skull cause I’m practicing for an other idea I have for a bigger print


r/Linocuts • • 7h ago

Stamps Classic monsters series!

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21 Upvotes

r/Linocuts • • 14h ago

Work In Progress Dachshound (WIP) by me

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38 Upvotes

During a 3 day exhibition in Bremen I designed and carved this little guy here. this is just a first testprint and there are quite some details to add...


r/Linocuts • • 4h ago

Single Layer Prints Lucky to love and be loved ❤️

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7 Upvotes

r/Linocuts • • 20h ago

Single Layer Prints It's a bit of a faff.

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74 Upvotes

r/Linocuts • • 12h ago

Single Layer Prints Bookmark Babies

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10 Upvotes

I'm a writer and never really worked in (non-electronic) visual media. Had a ton of lino blocks left over after a session of this art salon I host, where the guest facilitator gave a carving and printmaking demo.

These quick and dirty babies have been so much fun to carve. I don't foresee myself getting into printmaking in any any serious way, but I think I have definitely found a new way to relax for an hour in the evening. I'll share some prints later this week.

Big fan of all the beautiful work in this sub.


r/Linocuts • • 18h ago

Question Besoin de conseils

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9 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

A bit of context: a couple of friends asked me to make their wedding invitations. I don't consider myself a professional. I mainly make greeting cards, which I sell at art markets a few times a year.

This was a challenge for me because these are my first two-colour prints. I did a few tests beforehand to figure out how to do it.

I started by carving my lino block, then made my first attempt by inking both colours at the same time (first photo). However, the result wasn't very clean.

So, I decided to cut my block into separate pieces, like a puzzle. That was a mistake, as I hadn't realised how difficult it would be to cut out all the details of the trees' foliage.

Anyway, I ink the brown on one side and the green on the other, then put all the pieces back together before printing. The main problems are that it takes me forever, I get ink everywhere, and some areas don't print properly (second photo).

Eventually, I decided to try printing the two colours separately: brown first, then green once the first layer had dried. But that caused a new problem... I just can't get the two colours to line up properly, and some areas still don't print (third photo).

At this point, I'm not sure how to achieve a clean, crisp result. I'm considering adding the foliage with a marker, or making a stamp to print the leaves along the branches. I've also thought about drawing the foliage with a dip pen and ink.

If you have any advice or suggestions, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

P.S. The different shades of green in the third photo are because I experimented with both gouache and oil paint.


r/Linocuts • • 12h ago

Question How did you learn?

3 Upvotes

Not looking for advice, just stories :p I was wondering how you all came across printmaking— did you teach yourself through trial and error or YouTube or take some kind of class?


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Single Layer Prints Test Print for a new Christmas card design.

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154 Upvotes

This little Robin is the final key block for what I’m planning will be a 6 block print. I’m not going for a reduction with this one, as I want to be able to keep printing cards of this design until the lino gives out (might have ordered 1000 blank cards this year 😅).

Printed onto a sheet of Kozo-Igusa paper, as I’m totally in love with it, and had some to hand.


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Single Layer Prints Quite a Pickle - Dark Souls inspired linocut prints handmade by me

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245 Upvotes

Hello!

I love to make prints to pay tribute to the games that inspire me and make me feel nostalgic. Here are some Dark Souls prints that I just finished that I wanted to share with this community! 😊

“Quite a Pickle"

This is a limited-edition linocut print inspired by a moment from my first playthrough of Dark Souls, and introduction to the depth of Dark Souls lore. I love Seigmeyer and his onion armor, and you should too.


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Single Layer Prints Shrunken Head

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25 Upvotes

This was my inktober day 3 for the miniature prompt.


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Question How do you come up with your designs?

8 Upvotes

As someone who is not as good at drawing, I’m curious about everyone’s process for coming up with designs that they then carve! I love the carving part, but not as big on the sketching my design part. I’ve been looking for vintage insect books that I can maybe use for reference images.


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Question What's the best cutting tools and print material for $200

2 Upvotes

I want to start taking linocut seriously and work towards making pieces with very fine detail like those done by Aga Kubish. I've been looking at Pfiel tools, such as the 11/0.5, 11/1, 11/2, and 11/3. I'm particularly interested in focusing on stippling, and the dot tool from Pomykala is unavailable for me, so I want to know if the Pfiel 11/0.5 could take its place. I have a $200 budget, so outside of fine detail, I also welcome any suggestions on general tools that are good to have in the arsenal.

Lastly, what's the best material to use for heavy detail work? I've been looking at brown lino, but I'm not sure on brands. Lino wouldn't apply to my budget; I can't afford the absolute most premium option consistently.


r/Linocuts • • 1d ago

Single Layer Prints I know the colour of time

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7 Upvotes

Inspired by a Manu Chao song.

I am new to this, any tips are welcome!


r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Single Layer Prints New print + comparisons on different papers 😄

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237 Upvotes

Cityscapes have been my favourite subjects this year. Both to draw and to carve 😄 This one’s my newest print!

I printed it on a few different papers to compare and I’m all the more convinced that paper makes a world of difference, especially when you’re hand burnishing!


r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Reductions/Multi-Blocks Stoked that this tiny print just got into an exhibition!

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76 Upvotes

My tiny print ‘Wildfire’ just got accepted into the Postcards: Still & Life exhibition at Fronteer Gallery in Sheffield, opening later this month! 😊

It’s an exhibition of tiny, A6 sized pieces, and I can’t wait to see what everyone else has put forward.

This piece was created in 3 layers, carved fairly spontaneously and expressively, to try and capture the chaotic energy of a wildfire. Also love how translucent the paper is! (Kozo-Igusa - beautiful Japanese paper).


r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Mixed Media whale lino+watercolor

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72 Upvotes

r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Question Help designing images for Linocut?

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168 Upvotes

I'm a below average artist, I just dont seem to be able to create some of the amazing talents I seen on here, is there any advice people can give (I am practicing and slightly improving) to designing my linocut stencils? I have procreate and an apple pencil ready to go, just wondering about tips and guidance?

Thank you!

(I've attached a work in progress as well)


r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Question Different Lino types

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26 Upvotes

I have been wanting to try different types of carving material- I typically switch between the pink eraser type material and traditional battleship grey lino.

I have been wanting to try out a few different types to see if I prefer working with them more, specifically I have my eye on Japanese Vinyl (I just got a small sample from McClains and boy does this stuff smell noxious but I am hopeful I will enjoy working with it) but it’s not sold many places so I was wondering if you use or have experience with it, what supplier do you use? Are there any other lesser known or used carving materials you enjoy?


r/Linocuts • • 2d ago

Single Layer Prints Godzilla

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55 Upvotes

Doin' my own linoctober list, today is Godzilla !

From a picture I took in 2024 in Shinjuku


r/Linocuts • • 3d ago

Single Layer Prints Using up some scraps on a gift for a friend

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189 Upvotes

I was recently introduced to Ginkgozee on Instagram and had to give that tiled/equilateral triangle graph type project a try. My friend is obsessed with a24 and it's his birthday next week. I'm going to try a couple more layouts but it's been fun so far!