Block Printing processes date back to the original civilizations around the world.
From Egypt, pottery and tablets have been found where cylinder seals and stamps have been used to impress imagery and patterns into the surfaces of clay.
East Asian cultures developed this process as well, mainly on textiles. There are some surviving textiles from ancient times, but before 220AD there is no proof of fibers. Textiles and papers preserved, block transfers can be found in India and China specifically.
In China, they even use blocks in dyeing techniques. Jaixie, where Identical blocks are bound together, with fabric in between, and then submerged into dye vats.
European papers also found. Wood blocks and wood engravings are known as xylography. The print style is “relief” because the ink sits on top of the surface, as opposed to “letterpress” that is set into the paper’s surface.
Indonesia uses metal blocks to print with wax, batik, then dye the fabrics many times over creating layers of pattern and color. Skills used and shared through the Dutch into Africa, resulting in wax prints.
India continues to manufacture block-printed fabric by hand just as they did. They print with dye and mud resist and natural plant pigments.
Tools:
Block: Hard carve (linoleum or wood), Soft Carve (rubber or “quick carve”)
Carving Tools: Speedball carving kits or wood carving tools can be used. The Gage of the tool determines the level of detail
Substrate: What you are printing on.Paper, textile, wood, walls.
Ink: water-based or oil-based. Block printing inks tend to be a thicker consistency than silkscreen ink or acrylic paints. Jacquard Inks recommended. The container will say it's the preferred substrate
Brayer: Will roll out your ink to the right consistency, and transfer your ink to the block surface
Palette: Plexiglass sheet or similar. Taping some wax paper tightly over a flat surface can do in a pinch. You need a smooth flat surface to roll out your ink
A “Well” can be used. A soft cloth is laid at the bottom of a small shallow basin, color poured on top. Make sure to cover your ink if water-based. This is a little harder to control. This is a better technique when printing with dyes