Laser engraving linoleum for printing

Laser engraved linoleum print

Linoleum (Lino) is a widely used material for artist and printmakers. Traditional Linocut is done by hand and can be very time consuming. Using a lasercutter for engraving and cutting linoleum allows for new and different uses. It’s possible to get close to the print quality of Screen Printing but less time is needed for the whole process and the actual printing can be done without the need of a printing workshop.

Process: I rasterized a black and white photograph using Adobe Illustrator, engraved it on a lasercutter and printed it using an old printing press.

Size of the linoleum used for printing is 14 x 17.5cm

Photograph by Leroy Allen Skalstad

Sheet of laser engraved linoleum and resulting prints

Closeup of laser engraved linoleum print

Laser engraving linoleum raster

Laser engraved linoleum

Laser engraving linoleum

Laser engraving in progress