FAQs — Britt & Mars Print Co.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is relief printmaking?

In relief printing, the artist draws a design on a smooth block of material (wood, rubber, or in Britt’s case, linoleum) and uses carving tools to cut away areas that are not to be printed, leaving behind the raised surface of her designs. The surface of the block is then inked using a brayer (roller). A sheet of paper is then placed on top of the block and pressed, either by hand or with the aid of a press.

What materials do you use?

Britt usually draws directly onto unmounted linoleum. She uses water-based printing ink and acid-free paper.

How do you print the blocks?

Britt uses a combination of hand burnishing and an etching press to pull her prints.

Are all prints made by hand?

No, Britt will hand-print a limited edition of prints (usually 30 or less). She then scans the prints and offers Giclée prints for sale. A Giclée print is a high-resolution inkjet print of archival quality.

How are limited edition prints matted?

All prints are mounted and matted by Britt using acid-free materials.

Why do the same designs look different?

The limited edition prints are an accurate reflection of how the block is printed. Due to the handmade nature of the editioned prints, no two prints look exactly alike. Each print has its own subtle and unique variations and imperfections.

Britt will then scan a print and lightly edit it in Photoshop. Typical edits include adding the “Britt & Mars” logo, and some minor clean up. These edited digital images are what you see in online shops.