A brayer is a hand roller used in printmaking

Printmaking

Printmaking is the process of making artworks by printing, normally on paper. Printmaking normally covers only the process of creating prints with an element of originality, rather than just being a photographic reproduction of a painting. Except in the case of monotyping, the process is capable...

 techniques to spread ink in the process of offsetting

Offset printing

Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...

 an image from a plate to paper.

Materials

They can be made of composition rubber

Vulcanization

Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives." These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks between individual polymer chains. Vulcanized material is...

, rubber

Rubber

Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...

, sponge, acrylic, polyurethane

Polyurethane

A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...

 or leather

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created via the tanning of putrescible animal rawhide and skin, primarily cattlehide. It can be produced through different manufacturing processes, ranging from cottage industry to heavy industry.-Forms:...

. They are mounted on a spindle

Spindle

The term spindle may refer to:In textiles and manufacturing:*Spindle , a device to spin fibres into thread*Spindle , is the main rotating part of a machine tool, woodworking machine, etc...

 rod or pin, attached to a wooden handle somewhat shaped to accommodate the hand. Others have an all-metal support, while larger brayers have a double handle to apply maximum pressure.

Process

The printer uses a spatula to lay out an ink "pad" usually on glass, but as long as the preparation surface is tight and smooth, there are acceptable alternatives. When the ink is clear of debris and lumps, it is ready for the brayer which is rolled systematically across the pad to produce an even layer of ink on the roller. The brayer is then applied to the block so that the ink is evenly transferred to the raised areas before the next stage of pressing paper onto the block or plate.

Uses

Rubber brayers come in varieties of hardness and are primarily used for relief printing. Leather rollers are only used in lithography

Lithography

Lithography is a method for printing using a stone or a metal plate with a completely smooth surface...

. Sponge rollers are used only for paint

Paint

Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...

, scrapbooking

Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is a method for preserving personal and family history in the form of a scrapbook. Typical memorabilia include photographs, printed media, and artwork. Scrapbook albums are often decorated and frequently contain extensive journaling...

and other craft applications.