The 1.3 release of KeepItAll is now available in the iTunes App Store.
Users can now add existing photos of artwork from the iOS Photo Gallery.
The 1.2 release added the ability to upload artwork to Evernote.
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When making linoleum block prints, I like to start with a photograph that I have taken. In the past I used tracing paper on a printed photo, but I wanted to skip the printing of the photo and be able to go directly from my iPad to the tracing paper. I tried several existing photo editing software applications and found that the iPad’s screen is sensitive enough to pick up touches through the tracing paper. It made it very frustrating to always have to reposition the photo. So I gave up with that approach and wrote TraceBox. The current version of TraceBox is still fairly limited, but it will do the most important thing, hold the photo still while I trace onto the paper. The following example goes through the entire process of linoleum block printing from the beginning to the end.
Step 1 – Getting the photo setup 
Start TraceBox and select your photo. Click the Pick Tracing Photo button in the upper right to select your photo. Here is the photo that I have selected. After you have selected the photo and picked the desired orientation of the laptop you can then click the Lock Screen button in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 2 – Adding Tracing Paper 
After you have selected and locked the screen you can tape a piece of tracing paper to the front of the iPad. Trim a piece of tracing paper to the size of the iPad Screen. I typically use Scotch Magic Tape, it sticks well but pulls up from the iPad case without any trouble. I put one or two pieces of the tape on the top (relative to your drawing layout) of the iPad. This lets me flip up the tracing paper to let me see any details that don’t come through the tracing paper well. It also lets me see where I have traced and where I haven’t.
Step 3 – Drawing the Image 
Using a pencil (NOT A PEN – as it may bleed through and permanently mark your iPad) lightly trace the photo onto the tracing paper. Don’t use too much pressure to avoid damaging your iPad. I periodically flip up the tracing paper up to view details of the photo that don’t show through. It also lets me see areas that haven’t already been drawn on. In the bottom right corner of the tracing paper, I typically write “Positive” so that I can easily tell which side of the paper I wrote on. It also reminds me to flip the paper over before transferring it to a linoleum block.
Using a pencil (NOT A PEN – as it may bleed through and permanently mark your iPad) lightly trace the photo onto the tracing paper. Don’t use too much pressure to avoid damaging your iPad. I periodically flip up the tracing paper up to view details of the photo that don’t show through. It also lets me see areas that haven’t already been drawn on. In the bottom right corner of the tracing paper, I typically write “Positive” so that I can easily tell which side of the paper I wrote on. It also reminds me to flip the paper over before transferring it to a linoleum block.
Step 4 – Positioning on the Linoleum Block 
I then flip the tracing paper over so that the “Positive” side is down against the linoleum block. I do this so that the final drawing will look like my original photo. If you desire to have the print opposite to the original you can hold the positive side up. I then bend down the edges of the paper and tape the tracing paper to the wooden portion of the linoleum block.
I then flip the tracing paper over so that the “Positive” side is down against the linoleum block. I do this so that the final drawing will look like my original photo. If you desire to have the print opposite to the original you can hold the positive side up. I then bend down the edges of the paper and tape the tracing paper to the wooden portion of the linoleum block.
Step 5 – Transferring to the Linoleum block 
I then use a sharpie pen to go over the lines that I traced. Typically a sharpie will bleed through the paper and leave the image on the linoleum. Depending on the tracing paper, I sometimes only get a ghost line, and I have to flip up the paper to make it more visible. It takes a little longer, so check the transfer when you start so you don’t get all the way done and realize that it isn’t visible enough. I am using a thin point in the photo, but the regular tip has more ink and bleeds through easier.
I then use a sharpie pen to go over the lines that I traced. Typically a sharpie will bleed through the paper and leave the image on the linoleum. Depending on the tracing paper, I sometimes only get a ghost line, and I have to flip up the paper to make it more visible. It takes a little longer, so check the transfer when you start so you don’t get all the way done and realize that it isn’t visible enough. I am using a thin point in the photo, but the regular tip has more ink and bleeds through easier.
Step 6 – Carving for a Positive or Negative Image 
You need to decide if you want to create a positive or a negative image. In a positive image you will carve away everything but the lines. The ink will then go on the lines and the lines will show up on the paper. To create a negative image we will carve away the lines. The ink will go where there aren’t any lines. The lines will be the color of the paper, and the ink will fill in everywhere else. You can note in the image to the left that the positive (Right) required much more carving of the linoleum than the negative (Left) did.
You need to decide if you want to create a positive or a negative image. In a positive image you will carve away everything but the lines. The ink will then go on the lines and the lines will show up on the paper. To create a negative image we will carve away the lines. The ink will go where there aren’t any lines. The lines will be the color of the paper, and the ink will fill in everywhere else. You can note in the image to the left that the positive (Right) required much more carving of the linoleum than the negative (Left) did.
Step 7 – Carving the Image 
I decided to carve the lines to create a negative image. I used Speedball Number 1 and Number 2 V gouges to remove the linoleum. The number 2 large gouge gives the lines more width and depth and I favored it for this cut. I did some test prints to determine which lines needed to be wider and which were fine.
I decided to carve the lines to create a negative image. I used Speedball Number 1 and Number 2 V gouges to remove the linoleum. The number 2 large gouge gives the lines more width and depth and I favored it for this cut. I did some test prints to determine which lines needed to be wider and which were fine.
Step 8 – Printing 
Using my brayer and ink plate, I rolled the ink evenly onto the block. I then pressed the paper to the block and made sure there was good contact on the whole surface. I then put the block and paper into the press and pressed it down. After about 5 seconds I pulled it out and removed the paper.
Using my brayer and ink plate, I rolled the ink evenly onto the block. I then pressed the paper to the block and made sure there was good contact on the whole surface. I then put the block and paper into the press and pressed it down. After about 5 seconds I pulled it out and removed the paper.
I needed about 5 test prints to get the right amount of ink onto the surface of the block. So plan on making a few mess ups.
Step 9 – Print 
Here is the final print using a red ink on white paper. I used the following Speedball products for this example and they can be found at this webpage.
Here is the final print using a red ink on white paper. I used the following Speedball products for this example and they can be found at this webpage.
- 5×7 inch Linoleum block
- Brayer
- Ink Plate
- Number 1 Small V cutter
- Number 2 Large V cutter
- Press