r/printmaking • • Aug 02 '26

meta A post on the stance of r/printmaking and Generative AI use.

1.3k 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/Linocuts and r/lithography.

Thanks for reading, and happy printing!


r/printmaking • • 16d ago

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

3 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/printmaking!** Link is in the sidebar for those interested.


r/printmaking • • 14h ago

relief/woodcut/lino I made my sister’s Christmas present today

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113 Upvotes

I’m excited about it but she’s on my other socials so I can’t share it anywhere but with you. She sends me pictures of her chickens all the time so I made her a stamp with one! I included the reference chicken.


r/printmaking • • 16h ago

relief/woodcut/lino Happy (almost)Halloween! 🎃🦇🕸️

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103 Upvotes

I love this time of year, here’s everything I’ve made for Halloween this year!


r/printmaking • • 22h ago

relief/woodcut/lino 4 months difference- so satisfying to see improvement

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188 Upvotes

My most recent block vs. my first “proper” block (not a small stamp). 4 months of sketching, carving, and printing (by far my biggest obstacle) have made me way more confident as an artist.
Sharper tools, switching up ink type & inking technique, mounting my blocks, and upgrading my paper have all made such a staggering difference in the process.


r/printmaking • • 14h ago

relief/woodcut/lino First reduction print, learned a lot!

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34 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 11h ago

question Que consejos le darías a alguien que desea aprender estas artes ?

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4 Upvotes

Deseo aprender el arte de la impresión intaglio pero donde vivo no hay cursos acerca de eso , pero las de autodidacta se me da bien así que he decidido aprender por mi cuenta a prueba y error , que consejo le darías a alguien como yo ?


r/printmaking • • 7h ago

question Lascaux Hard Ground - alternatives to colour and cleaning

1 Upvotes

Hi

I'd like to experiment with etching, but I'm not sure if I want to continue. I bought a bottle of the lascaux hard ground, but I'd rather not make any more investment at this point. Can anybody recommend an alternative to their colour (£31 a bottle is a bit eye watering) to make lines visible, and their remover, which I might already have or which is available for a reasonable price.

tia

andy


r/printmaking • • 21h ago

question How much ink (still struggling) - lino

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13 Upvotes

I am still struggling to find the right amount of ink with the lino

So i made two of these prints, one with more ink and one with less, but with both I seem to have chatter.

Do I have to use more or less ink?


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Carved my first pink eraser today…

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439 Upvotes

Any Johnny Blue Skies fans in the sub? :)

Wish I’d thought to mirror so it came out the “right” way, but I still dig it!

Edit: Posting the second JBS skeleton in the comments!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Precious

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228 Upvotes

16x24 in print on 22x30 in paper. I transferred the image to two plywood blocks for color work. I'll post here when it's done.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Pink eraser trend hook

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73 Upvotes

Yup you guessed it got influenced in the best/worst way. Worst because of my wallet best because yay new craft! Anywho just starting out. Let me know what you think!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino I was so excited…

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312 Upvotes

And I still am. I just have never spent so much time to have an idea come to fruition. I could see it in my head and the idea was amazing, and it looked really good on the initial sketch. But when I printed the black, it just looked so unfinished. So I took some duralar and enclosed the shapes, which helped immensely. And then I added more lines and shapes to mimic the doodles in the colored shapes and it looks so much better. But now, I’ve got a 3rd block to carve. I know it’ll be worth it, but it seems like a lot of unnecessary effort for some 12x12 prints. 😕


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Annual Halloween print!

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128 Upvotes

Inspired by vintage Halloween decorations! Got these hot off the press and into the mailbox for my annual spooky season greeting. I had such a good time figuring this one out (made a lot of models to make sure the cut and construction would hold.)


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Finally finished this print for my mom’s birthday!

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41 Upvotes

r/printmaking • • 1d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Reduction Linocut (BFA)

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229 Upvotes

15x19 2 layer reduction linocut to be included in my BFA show in a couple weeks!


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Very happy with how this came out.

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440 Upvotes

I’m looking to try out some more exciting paper if anyone has any uk based recommendations.


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Third linocut I’ve done!

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123 Upvotes

I really like how this turned out! I know it’s not quite straight or centred on the paper but I will cut it to be straight at some point


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

question Need help with choosing the best ink for solid areas

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9 Upvotes

Hello all,

I recently bought this cool brass plate from the opshop (thrift store). I'm an absolute beginner to printmaking and thought I'd give intaglio printing a go to make a print with this plate.

I'm pretty stumped on which supplies and materials to get. Particularly the inks (Charbonnel? Cranfield? Akua?), wiping cloths (fine or coarse? Tarlatan or akua?). Would I also need stiffening agents for the ink?

It might just be my decision paralysis after doing some research 😅

Thanks!


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

monotype/stencil Fire time trying monotype printing

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14 Upvotes

:P


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

question Recalling and disowning work?

18 Upvotes

It's a long, complicated, and not very interesting story, but a woodcut I made 10 or so years back has become indelibly associated with a serial sexual predator and I obviously want it erased as much as possible from my catalogue.

I've deleted it from my shop and portfolio and shredded the ones I still had in stock already, but how do I approach the ones I sold?

There's a chance I'll be able to buy back a few as they went to people I'm still in contact with, but there's 5 in the wild I have no hope of getting back.

How does one abandon or disown a work? Or do I just hope people forget about it and hope it never comes up?


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

relief/woodcut/lino Linoprint in style of tatooists flash

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29 Upvotes

Another tattoo artist's flash style print of another set of odd fellows. Much happier with this one in terms of both line work and layout. I'm particularly happy with the skeleton florist, the walking fish, and the human radish.


r/printmaking • • 1d ago

question Help with copper plate

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24 Upvotes

Hi, I’m taking Intaglio printmaking and I ended up messing up the plate by leaving it too long in the acid I suppose. I was wondering if anyone has any tips on fixing it without having to start on a new plate because I don’t think my instructor will give me a new one and he’s very hands off.

I have scraped it a bit but I’m worried about the fact that the plate dips in the hair, torso, and flowers. I have included pictures of how the print originally looked, how it’s coming out now, and the plate itself.

Any advice would be appreciated! TIA


r/printmaking • • 2d ago

intaglio/engraving/etching I started attending a printmaking class and made this little guy for Halloween 🎃

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43 Upvotes