Relief Reduction Printing using a Styrofoam Block

The reduction technique is essentially a method used by

printmakers to incorporate multiple layers of colour onto a relief print.

As suggested by its name, this technique involves ‘reducing’ a block to create a multiple coloured print.

A single piece of styrofoam will be engraved to produce the first colour, then the block will be ‘reduced’( i.e. engraved further) and this will be used to print over the top of the first colour.

The plate will be further reduced and printed again using the third colour.

Over the next three weeks our prints will have 3 layers of colour!