• Pack of Printmakers' Carving Blocks Softcut by Essdee on a white background
  • Carving a dragon design into a piece of clay with a tool on a wooden surface.
  • Stack of beige cardboard sheets on a white background
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Essdee Softcut Hanging Pack (2 Pieces)

Essdee Softcut Hanging Pack (2 Pieces)

Beginner-friendly block printing material offering exceptional carving ease with fine-line capability in convenient retail two-piece pack.

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In stock

⚙ Ideal For

  • First-time block printing artists
  • Younger and student users
  • Educational art programmes
  • Hobbyist printmakers
  • Printing press experimentation

✔ Benefits

  • Significantly easier to carve than lino
  • Creamy white surface for direct drawing
  • Sharp, consistent print results
  • Press-compatible with care
  • Two blocks per convenient retail pack
DETAILED DESCRIPTION →
Size
£3.45 GBP
£3.45 GBP
£2.88 Ex. VAT
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🚚 UK Shipping: Standard (£2.99) or FREE on orders over £75.

📦 Dispatched same-day if ordered before 3pm!

Shipping Information

What Are My Shipping Options?

In-Store Pickup

In-Store pickup is available on all purchase. Pickups are available Monday - Friday between the hours of 9:00–17:00. 

An email confirmation will be sent when your order is ready for collection. 

Free Shipping

We offer free Standard (2-3 Days) shipping on orders within the United Kingdom on orders over £100. Please note, some large items that require specialist courier companies, such as large mirrors and palleted items are excluded from this deal.

Shipping Fees

We also offer shipping at the following rates:

Standard-Size Parcel

Standard (UK Only) - 2-3 Days - £2.99

Express (UK Only) - 1-2 Days - £4.99

International (EU) - 3-7 Days - £14.99

International (ROW) - 5-10+ Days -£23.99


Large Parcel

Standard (UK Only) - 2-3 Days - £2.99

Express (UK Only) - 1-2 Days - £4.99

International (EU) - 3-7 Days - £14.99

International (ROW) - 5-10+ Days - £69.99

Most UK orders will be sent using Royal Mail, with larger items being sent with DPD.

International orders within the EU will normally be dispatched with Royal Mail, DPD, or UPS.

International orders to the rest of the world will normally be sent with DPD or UPS.

Please note, international delivery charges are very volatile and subject to change. We will do everything in our power to honour the delivery fee, however, in some cases, shipping may increase in price. In this event, you will be given the offer to pay the difference or cancel the order and receive a full refund.

Please note, we may be subject to various rules and restrictions in relation to some international deliveries, and you may be subject to additional taxes and duties over which we have no control. If such cases apply, you are responsible for complying with the laws applicable to the country where you live and will be responsible for any such additional costs or taxes.

Dispatch Times

Orders placed before 15:00 Monday - Friday will be shipped on the same day. 

Orders placed after this time will be shipped on the following business day,

Please note, we are closed at weekends, as well as English Bank Holidays.

Returns Policy

Our refund policy can be found at the following address: https://esupplyline.com/policies/refund-policy.

Further Information

You can contact us for further information on our shipping policies using the following:

Phone: 01953 711 881

Email: sales@esupplyline.com

Live Chat: Available on our website, Monday - Friday, 8:30 - 17:00.

Contact Form: https://esupplyline.com/pages/contact

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Essdee Softcut Hanging Pack (2 Pieces)

Essdee SoftCut is a specially formulated block printing material engineered to be substantially easier to carve than traditional linoleum, extending block printing accessibility to beginners and younger artists. The creamy white surface accepts direct drawing with soft pencil, enabling straightforward design transfer without additional marking. Fine-line capability delivers sharp, consistent prints whilst moderate press compatibility allows experimentation with printing press techniques. The retail hanging pack provides two SoftCut blocks ideal for learning, practice, or small projects.

Key Features

  • Significantly Easier to Carve — SoftCut prioritises carving ease, reducing hand fatigue and tool resistance compared to traditional linoleum blocks.
  • Creamy White Drawing Surface — Naturally light surface accepts soft pencil marks directly, eliminating the need for carbon paper or additional marking tools.
  • Fine-Line Capability — Holds crisp, sharp details enabling precise line reproduction from design to printed result.
  • Sharp, Consistent Prints —Ensures reliable print quality across multiple impressions without surface degradation or line loss.
  • Press-Compatible Design — Can be used with printing presses through careful handling, enabling printmakers to explore press techniques beyond hand printing.
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Description

Block Printing Accessibility for Diverse Users

Traditional linoleum blocks present carving challenges—high resistance requires significant hand strength and tool pressure, creating barriers for younger artists, students, and less experienced printmakers. Extended carving sessions cause hand fatigue and potential tool slips. SoftCut addresses these accessibility challenges through formulation specifically engineering reduced carving resistance. This ease-of-carving focus opens block printing to broader audiences, from children in educational programmes to adult hobbyists seeking lower-barrier creative entry.

Direct Drawing Capability Without Transfer Tools

Traditional block printing typically requires carbon paper or tracing to transfer designs to the block surface. The dark transfer medium can create visibility challenges and inaccurate line reproduction. SoftCut's creamy white surface accepts soft pencil marks directly, enabling artists to draw or sketch designs freehand onto the block. This direct drawing approach is more intuitive—particularly for younger or less experienced artists—and eliminates transfer materials, reducing setup time and complexity.

Fine-Line Precision for Detailed Work

Block printing traditionally involves trade-offs between carving ease and print detail. Softer materials hold less fine detail; harder materials require excessive carving pressure. SoftCut balances this trade-off through formulation maintaining fine-line capability despite reduced hardness. Artists can carve delicate linework, small text, and precise details without the material crumbling or the tool skipping. This capability extends the creative possibilities beyond simple bold designs to sophisticated, detailed printwork.

Reliable Print Consistency Across Runs

Quality printing requires consistent substrate—warping, surface degradation, or ink absorption variation creates print quality inconsistency. SoftCut's formulation maintains surface integrity through multiple printings, delivering consistent ink transfer and sharp impressions. This reliability is particularly valuable for educational applications and project work where reproducibility matters—students or artists can print multiple copies with confidence in consistent results.

Press Compatibility for Technique Exploration

Hand-printing delivers satisfying results but limits pressure control and speed. Printing presses enable exploration of press techniques, higher pressure registration, and faster production workflows. SoftCut's moderate strength enables press use with careful handling—artists can experiment with press techniques without investing in traditional lino or more expensive alternatives. This compatibility bridges hand-printing and mechanical production techniques.

Two-Block Retail Pack for Practice and Learning

Block printing often involves experimentation, errors, and learning. The two-block pack provides material for initial learning and practice without excessive investment. Artists can carve multiple designs, explore techniques, and develop skills before committing to larger quantities or higher-cost materials. This starter approach is ideal for students, hobbyists, and anyone new to the medium.

More Information

Application Instructions

Examine the SoftCut surface before beginning. Check for any imperfections or damage; the creamy white surface should be clean and unmarked.

Plan your design on paper first. Sketch your block printing design on paper at the same size as your SoftCut block.

Transfer or draw the design directly onto the block. Use soft pencil to draw your design directly onto the creamy white surface, or transfer a design using carbon paper if preferred.

Ensure pencil lines are visible and clear. Dark pencil marks provide good visibility for carving—redraw any faint areas before beginning.

Select appropriate carving tools. Use linoleum carving tools, small chisels, or specialized lino cutters; ensure tools are sharp for clean carving.

Carve along the pencil lines carefully. The reduced hardness of SoftCut makes carving easier—use controlled pressure to avoid unintended cuts.

Carve away areas that will remain unprinted. Remove material around the image areas you want to print, creating raised surfaces for ink transfer.

Check carving depth periodically. Moderate carving depth (typically 3–5 mm) is sufficient; excessive depth provides no printing benefit.

Clean the carved block thoroughly. Remove all carving debris and pencil marks that might interfere with printing.

Apply printing ink to the block surface. Use block printing ink applied with a roller for even coverage over the raised surfaces.

Test print on scrap paper first. Make an initial test print to confirm image quality before printing final copies.

Press paper firmly for clear impressions. Use consistent pressure when pressing paper onto the inked block, ensuring even ink transfer.

Store the carved block safely between use. Keep the block flat and protected to prevent warping or damage to carved details.

Specifications

Product Type Block printing material for hand and press printing

Format Two creamy white blocks in retail hanging pack

Quantity 2 blocks per pack

Material Composition Specially formulated SoftCut material

Surface Finish Creamy white, naturally light surface

Drawing Compatibility Accepts soft pencil marks directly without transfer medium

Carving Difficulty Significantly easier than traditional linoleum

Tool Compatibility Compatible with standard linoleum carving tools and chisels

Carving Resistance Moderate resistance enabling controlled, precise cuts

Fine-Line Capability Holds sharp, crisp details and small linework

Print Quality Sharp, consistent impressions with minimal degradation

Ink Compatibility Compatible with standard block printing inks

Surface Degradation Maintains integrity through multiple printing impressions

Printing Method Hand printing and printing press (with care)

Press Compatibility Can be used in printing presses with proper handling

Pressure Rating Supports hand and moderate mechanical press pressure

Storage Requirements Store flat, protected from warping and environmental exposure

Temperature Sensitivity Minimal temperature sensitivity; stable storage at room temperature

Durability Withstands multiple carving sessions and extended use

Reusability Blocks can be carved for multiple different designs over time

Surface Protection Creamy finish minimises marking but benefits from protective handling

Intended Users Beginners, students, younger artists, hobbyists, experienced printmakers

Skill Level Requirement Accessible to first-time users; no prior block printing experience required

Learning Curve Reduced learning curve due to ease of carving

Educational Use Appropriate for classroom and instructional programmes

Artist Community Suitable for independent artists and community art workshops

Project Scale Two blocks sufficient for practice, learning, or small project completion

Packaging Retail hanging pack with convenient storage and display options

Shelf Life Extended shelf life under proper storage conditions

HS Code 9206.00

Documents

Documents not available for this product.

FAQs

Is SoftCut appropriate for complete beginners with no block printing experience?

Yes, absolutely. SoftCut is specifically engineered for accessibility to beginners and younger artists. The reduced carving resistance makes it much easier to control the carving tool, reducing hand fatigue and minimising accidental tool slips. The creamy white surface accepts direct soft pencil drawing, simplifying design transfer. Many first-time block printers find SoftCut intuitive enough to achieve satisfying results on their first attempt, building confidence quickly.

How does SoftCut compare to traditional linoleum blocks in terms of carving difficulty?

SoftCut carves significantly more easily than traditional linoleum—reduced material hardness requires less hand pressure and tool force. This ease translates to faster carving, reduced fatigue during extended sessions, and better precision for beginners. However, traditional linoleum holds slightly sharper details over many print runs; for most educational and hobbyist use, SoftCut's fine-line capability is more than adequate. Most users find the carving ease advantage worth any minimal trade-off in ultimate detail sharpness.

Can I use SoftCut blocks in a printing press, and what precautions are necessary?

Yes, SoftCut can be used in printing presses with care. The moderate formulation strength handles reasonable press pressure, though SoftCut isn't as hard as traditional linoleum or polymer blocks. Use moderate, even pressure rather than excessive force. Ensure the block is properly secured to prevent slipping. Some printmakers use SoftCut in hand-operated presses successfully; high-speed commercial presses may risk damaging the blocks. Start with gentle pressure and increase gradually based on results, stopping if crumbling or damage occurs.

Why does the two-block pack come together, and is one block sufficient for learning?

The two-block pack provides material for practice and experimentation—the first block for initial learning and potential mistakes, the second for applying improved techniques or creating a different design. Two blocks support the natural learning process where artists carve, print, and refine their approach. One block is technically sufficient for complete beginners, but two blocks enable more exploration and typically better learning outcomes through practice and iteration without worrying about "wasting" material.

Variant Variant total Quantity Price Variant total
100 x 150mm3.0/SC2-2
100 x 150mm3.0/SC2-2
£3.45/ea 		£0.00
£3.45/ea £0.00
150 x 200mm3.0/SC3-2
150 x 200mm3.0/SC3-2
£5.95/ea 		£0.00
£5.95/ea £0.00
200 x 300mm3.0/SC4-2
200 x 300mm3.0/SC4-2
£10.55/ea 		£0.00
£10.55/ea £0.00
300 x 420mm3.0/SC5-2
300 x 420mm3.0/SC5-2
£19.95/ea 		£0.00
£19.95/ea £0.00
105 x 100mm3.0/SC1-2
105 x 100mm3.0/SC1-2
£2.69/ea 		£0.00
£2.69/ea £0.00
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