baren engraving tool

For centuries, the art of Japanese woodblock printing has been perfected through the use of Barens. This tool consists of a cylinder-like shape woven together with thin strips of bamboo, with lashing in the form of cord or paper on its exterior. With its ability to firmly press down onto an inked plate, the Baren pushes ink onto the paper, taking its name from the Japanese verb “barin” – which means ‘to roll up’.

From Japanese woodblock printing to Western-style relief presses and intaglio printers, barens are integral to many different printing methods. With each application, the baren functions as a pressure transmitter – transferring the ink from plate to paper with an even distribution. By exerting the same amount of pressure throughout, prints created with a baren are characterized by their consistency.

For relief printing, the baren is an essential tool for transferring the ink from the plate to the paper. By affixing a gentle pressure to the back of the printing plate, the baren ensures an even distribution, leading to a beautiful, uniform finish.

With intaglio printing, the baren takes the reigns, applying pressure to the reverse side of the plate with uniform intensity to secure the ink’s successful transition to the paper. This helps to maintain an even print.

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