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🧪 Printmaking Simulation

Interactive relief-printmaking simulator: carve a linocut-style block, roll ink onto the raised surface, and press paper to pull a print. See why only uncarved areas take ink, and how repeated pulls fade without re-inking.

Everyday Physics2DModerate60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted

Relief printmaking — the process behind linocuts, woodcuts and rubber stamps — works because ink only sticks to whatever is physically highest on a carved block. This simulator gives you a real carvable block: gouge a design into it, roll ink across the raised surface with a brayer, then press paper down to pull a print. Every cell that stays uncarved receives ink proportional to how heavily the roller was loaded; every carved cell is mechanically below the roller's reach and always prints white. Pressing transfers only a pressure-dependent fraction of each cell's ink film to the paper, which is why pulling a second impression without re-inking produces a visibly fainter "ghost" print — exactly what happens on a real press.

⚙ Under the hood

This simulation demonstrates the principles behind various printmaking techniques. It explores concepts like carving, ink distribution, and pressure application as they relate to creating multiple impressions of an image.

Arts PrintmakingLinocut

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install