This mistake might not seem dramatic, but it can easily lead to messy, unclear prints: you’re using too much ink.
You’ll notice it when the ink spreads beyond the carved lines or when fine details start to fill in and disappear.
Another issue is drying time. Especially with oil-based inks, too much ink means endless waiting.
A thin layer normally dries within a few days — but with too much ink, it can take weeks before your print is fully dry.

You can not only see it — you can hear it.
When there’s too much ink on your roller, it sounds like walking through mud — that sticky, squishy sound while rolling.
The right amount of ink, on the other hand, sounds smooth, quiet, and almost “dry.”
In my online course, there’s an entire video lesson about this — you’ll hear the difference and learn how to find the perfect amount of ink for clean, even prints.

Using too little ink is much less of a problem. You can easily fix it by adding a bit more or adjusting your pressure.
The secret to beautiful prints lies in the right balance of ink, paper, and pressure.
So if one of your prints doesn’t turn out quite right, don’t get discouraged — it’s often easy to save.
Over the years, I’ve learned plenty of tricks to achieve smooth, even results. In my online course, I’ll show you exactly how to create strong, consistent prints — without frustration and with all the joy that linocut can bring.