🖨️ SNP Wiki | Which Monoprint Plate Should You Choose?
The plate you choose affects your result more than the paint itself.
Not all printing plates behave the same — and they are not designed for the same techniques.
At Scraps n Pieces, we offer three different types of monoprint surfaces. Here’s what each one does and how to decide which one fits your workflow.
🟢 Flexible Gel Plates
What they are
Soft, flexible surfaces that hold paint on top and allow multiple layers.
Work best with
- Acrylic paints (fluid or soft body)
- Block printing inks
- Stencils and textures
What they offer
✔ Layering
✔ Ghost prints
✔ Organic backgrounds
✔ Texture transfer
→ Choose this if you want mixed media backgrounds, art journaling, scrapbooking, or experimental prints with depth and texture.
⚫ Speedball Gel Plate (ideal for block printing inks)
What makes it different
It performs exceptionally well with water-based block printing inks.
Result
✔ More controlled surface
✔ Cleaner, more graphic prints
✔ Less layering chaos, more contrast
→ Choose this if you mainly want to work with block printing inks and prefer sharper, cleaner pulls.
🟣 Rigid Monoprint Plates
What they are
Rigid, smooth plastic plates. They are not gel and have no elasticity.
Work best with
- Block printing inks
- Thin layers of acrylic paint
Ideal for
✔ Subtractive techniques (drawing by removing ink)
✔ Clean, graphic prints
✔ Traditional monoprinting
✔ Printmaking-focused work
→ Choose this if you want precision, strong contrast, and a more traditional printmaking feel.
🎯 Quick Decision Guide
Want layering and ghost prints with acrylics?
→ Choose a Flexible Gel Plate.
Want clean results with block printing ink?
→ Choose a Speedball Gel Plate.
Want traditional monoprinting with subtractive drawing?
→ Choose a Grafix Rigid Plate.
📌 SNP Conclusion
All of these plates allow you to create monoprints.
They simply do not behave the same way.
Your choice should be based on:
- The medium you plan to use
- The level of control you want
- The final visual style you’re aiming for
Understanding the surface is the first step to getting the result you expect.
