The Ultimate 2025 Guide To Speedball Block Printing Inks: What's New, What's Discontinued, And The Best Ink For Your Project
Are you a printmaker wondering which Speedball ink to use for your next linocut or woodcut project? As of late 2025, the world of block printing is seeing significant updates, and staying current with your materials is essential for professional results. Speedball, the industry leader in relief printing, has recently introduced captivating new colors across their lines and, critically, announced the discontinuation of certain products, making this the perfect time to review your supply cabinet and understand the nuances of their three primary ink formulations: Water-Soluble, Fabric, and the Professional Relief Ink.
The choice of ink—whether you need the quick cleanup of a water-soluble formula or the permanence of a water-washable oil—directly impacts your print's quality, drying time, and archival longevity. This article breaks down the latest product changes, provides a clear comparison of each ink type, and offers expert tips on materials to ensure your prints are bold, crisp, and long-lasting.
The 2025 Speedball Ink Update: New Colors and Critical Discontinuation News
Keeping your printmaking supplies fresh is key to avoiding issues like patchy coverage or poor transfer. For late 2025, Speedball has made several notable changes that printmakers should be aware of, ranging from exciting new color palettes to the phasing out of older products.
Exciting New Color Additions and Packaging Refresh
Speedball has expanded its color spectrum, injecting new life into both the Water-Soluble and Fabric ink lines. This expansion provides artists with more nuanced shades for multi-color prints and subtle textile designs.
- New Water-Soluble Colors: The Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink line, known for its minimal odor and easy cleanup, has added three new shades: Bluestone, Cornsilk, and Leaf Green. These additions bring the total available colors to 27, including process colors for mixing.
- New Fabric Ink Colors: The popular Fabric Block Printing Inks, which are permanent without the need for heat-setting, now include Mint, Lilac, and Cornsilk, offering softer pastel options for textile artists.
- New Packaging: Both the Water-Soluble and Fabric ink lines are undergoing a comprehensive packaging makeover. While the formula remains the same, the fresh look aims to make the product lines more distinguishable on the shelf.
Critical Discontinuation Alert (Act Fast!)
The most important update for 2025 is the news that certain colors and potentially entire lines of Speedball Block Printing Inks are being discontinued by the manufacturer. This is crucial information for artists who rely on specific shades for ongoing projects or archival consistency.
- Phased Out Colors: As of September 2025, some colors are officially being discontinued. While the full list may vary by retailer, the Magenta shade in the Oil-Based Block Printing Ink line has been confirmed as a discontinued color.
- The Impact: If you use a wide range of colors in the Water-Soluble or older Oil-Based lines, it is highly recommended to check with your supplier for current stock availability and consider stocking up on your favorite shades before they are permanently unavailable.
The Three Pillars of Speedball Ink: Water-Soluble vs. Fabric vs. Professional Relief
Speedball offers three distinct ink formulations, each designed for a specific purpose and offering unique working properties. Understanding these differences is the secret to achieving professional results in your relief printing.
1. Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink
This is the go-to ink for beginners, classroom settings, and artists who prioritize convenience and speed.
- Key Properties: Made from pigments ground to an ideal consistency, these inks offer bold color and dry to a rich, satiny finish. They are non-toxic, have minimal odor, and are incredibly easy to clean up with just soap and water.
- Drying Time: Very fast. On paper, the drying time can be as quick as 10–15 minutes, depending on the room temperature and humidity. This speed can be a double-edged sword, as it can lead to the ink drying on the block or brayer too quickly, causing patchiness during printing.
- Best For: Paper, cardboard, and quick studio sessions. Excellent for multi-layer prints where fast drying is necessary before the next color is applied.
2. Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink
For textile artists, this ink provides the perfect balance of oil-based permanence and water-based cleanup.
- Key Properties: This is a water-washable oil-based formula, meaning it cleans up easily with water but provides the durability of an oil-based ink. It is formulated to be permanent and washfast on textiles.
- Drying & Permanence: The ink dries to the touch overnight. Crucially, it becomes fully permanent and ready for washing 4–7 days after the ink is dry, with no heat-setting required. This non-cracking, non-peeling permanence is a huge advantage for printing on wearable items.
- Best For: Natural and synthetic fabrics, including cotton, polyester blends, linen, and rayon. Also works well on paper and board.
3. Speedball Professional Relief Ink
This is the premium choice for professional artists seeking the highest quality, most consistent roll-out, and best archival properties.
- Key Properties: The Professional Relief Ink is a water-miscible, oil-based ink. It combines the smooth, consistent roll-out and superior working properties of traditional oil ink with the convenience of water cleanup, eliminating the need for harsh solvents. It contains the highest quality, lightfast pigments for consistent color over time.
- Working Properties: Unlike the thinner Water-Soluble ink, the Professional Relief Ink is formulated to "release" well, ensuring that most of the ink transfers from the block (linoleum or wood) onto the paper, resulting in a crisp, solid print.
- Best For: Fine art printmaking, limited edition prints, and any project where color consistency, archival quality, and a smooth, even transfer are paramount.
Topical Authority: Essential Tools and Best Surfaces for Speedball Inks
The best ink in the world is only as good as the tools and surfaces you use with it. To achieve the best possible results with your Speedball inks, consider these essential pairings:
The Right Paper for Hand Printing
When hand-printing (without a press), using a thinner, absorbent paper is key to ensuring excellent transfer of the ink, especially with the quicker-drying Water-Soluble formula. Thick, heavy paper can make hand-burnishing difficult.
- Japanese Papers (Kozo/Washi): Papers like Kitakata (a delicate, thin paper), Okawara (a thicker, acid-free option), and Awagami Mingeishi are highly recommended for their absorbency and strength, which allows for a deep, even print with minimal pressure.
- Printmaking-Specific Paper: Richeson Bulk Printmaking Paper is a popular choice for larger prints, offering a smooth surface that takes the ink well.
- Avoid: Standard, smooth copy paper or overly thick watercolor paper, as they often resist the ink transfer when printing by hand.
Essential Printmaking Entities
To successfully use Speedball inks, you will need a few key pieces of equipment. The interaction between the ink, the block, and the tools defines the quality of your final print.
- Brayer: A high-quality rubber brayer is essential for rolling out the ink evenly on your inking plate (a glass or acrylic slab). Even ink distribution is the foundation of a good print.
- Block Material: Speedball's inks are designed to work perfectly with both traditional Linoleum Blocks and softer alternatives like Speedy-Carve or Speedball Soft Block, which are easier to carve.
- Inking Plate: A non-porous surface like glass or a sheet of acrylic is necessary to roll out the ink to the correct, thin, "tacky" consistency.
- Burnishing Tool: For hand-printing, a baren or a wooden spoon is used to apply pressure to the back of the paper, ensuring the ink transfers from the block to the paper.
By understanding the latest product updates, choosing the correct ink formulation for your intended surface (paper, cotton, or archival), and utilizing the right tools, you can harness the full potential of Speedball's versatile line of block printing inks for all your relief printing projects.
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