Make a lithography print
Make a simple lithography print by drawing on a smooth tile with wax crayon, inking the tile, and transferring the image onto paper.
About this activity
Make a simple lithography print by drawing on a smooth tile with wax crayon, inking the tile, and transferring the image onto paper.
What you need
Step by step
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Step 1
Gather all your materials and set them on a flat table.
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Step 2
Clean the tile by wiping it with a damp cloth and then dry it with a paper towel.
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Step 3
Put the tile on a protected flat workspace like a towel or cardboard.
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Step 4
Draw a bold simple picture on the tile with wax crayons pressing firmly to lay down lots of wax.
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Step 5
Dab the non-drawn areas of the tile with a barely damp sponge so the tile is slightly wet but not dripping.
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Step 6
Squeeze a small blob of block printing ink onto a piece of scrap paper.
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Step 7
Roll the brayer through the ink until the roller has a thin even coat.
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Step 8
Roll the inked brayer gently over the tile so the ink sticks to the areas not covered by crayon.
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Step 9
Lay a sheet of printing paper on top of the inked tile and smooth it flat with your hand.
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Step 10
Rub the back of the paper evenly with a spoon or a baren for about 30 seconds to transfer the ink.
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Step 11
Peel the paper off the tile slowly to reveal your print.
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Step 12
Dab excess ink from the tile and the brayer with paper towels and a little vegetable oil.
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Step 13
Wash the tile and the brayer with warm soapy water to remove remaining ink and rinse well.
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Step 14
Let your print dry flat for at least one hour.
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Step 15
Share your finished lithograph on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you make a simple lithography print on a smooth tile?
To make a simple lithography print on a smooth tile, clean a flat ceramic or glass tile and draw a design with wax crayon or oil pastel. Roll a thin, even layer of block printing ink onto the tile with a brayer—ink adheres to waxed marks. Wipe lightly around the drawing if needed. Lay dampened printmaking or heavy paper onto the tile, press evenly with a baren, spoon, or hand burnisher, then peel back slowly to reveal the print. Allow to dry.
What materials do I need to make a tile lithography print?
You'll need: a smooth ceramic or glass tile (clean, no rough edges); wax crayons or oil pastels (oil pastels give stronger marks); block printing or water-based printing ink; a brayer (roller) and flat tray for inking; heavyweight print or watercolor paper; a baren, spoon, or wooden burnisher to press; newsprint for test prints; masking tape, damp sponge, paper towels, and non-toxic gloves. Optional: a printing press or plexiglass plate for easier inking.
What ages is this tile lithography activity suitable for?
This tile lithography activity suits ages about 5–12 with different supervision levels. Ages 5–7 enjoy simple drawing and need close adult help for inking and pressing. Ages 8–12 can plan designs, ink with guidance, and make multiple prints independently. Teenagers and adults can explore more complex techniques. Always supervise handling inks and tools, and adapt steps, pressure, and materials for younger children's motor skills.
What safety tips should I follow for tile lithography with kids?
Safety tips: use non-toxic, child-safe block or water-based inks and oil pastels rather than solvent-based materials. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear aprons and gloves if desired. Avoid strong solvents for cleanup—use baby wipes or soap and water for water-based inks. Check tiles for sharp edges and sand them or use rounded ceramic tiles. Supervise pressing to prevent pinching and keep small parts away from very young children.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
I don't have a brayer or block printing ink—what can I use instead?
Use a small foam paint roller or silicone paint roller in place of the brayer, substitute a smooth plexiglass or vinyl floor tile for the ceramic tile, and test acrylic paint thinned slightly on scrap paper before following 'squeeze a small blob of block printing ink onto a piece of scrap paper' and rolling it through the ink.
My print has ink where the crayon should repel it or the image came out faint—what likely went wrong?
Either you didn't press firmly enough with wax crayons as in 'pressing firmly to lay down lots of wax', the tile was too wet from the 'dab the non-drawn areas... with a barely damp sponge' step so ink bled, or you didn't rub the back of the paper evenly for about 30 seconds with the spoon or baren, so try more wax, blot excess moisture, and apply steady pressure when transferring.
How can I adapt this lithography activity for different age groups?
For preschoolers simplify to drawing very bold shapes and have an adult handle inking, rolling and washing, school-age kids can follow all steps with supervision, and teens can experiment with multi-color layers by re-inking and doing additional passes.
What are some ways to extend or personalize the finished lithograph?
Create a series by re-inking the tile in different colors and printing multiple sheets, add texture to the tile before inking for patterned effects, or hand-color the dried print and frame it to share on DIY.org.