Woodcut linocut tools

Woodcut-linocut tools can be classified into three main categories:

1. Deep U-shaped chisels:
   These are ideal for making white lines and for outlining. They correspond to shapes 11 (deep U) and 10 (slightly less deep U), and are available in my range from 0.5mm to 6mm.

2. V-shaped chisels:
   These allow for the same techniques. The advantage of the V shape is that the width of the line directly depends on the depth of the cut (while with U-shaped chisels, the width of the line is more uniform). The downside is that they are more difficult to sharpen than U-shaped chisels. V-shaped chisels correspond to shapes 12 and 14 (wider openings) and are available from 1mm to 4mm.

3. Flat U-shaped chisels:
   These chisels are used to hollow out large areas and flatten the background. They correspond to shapes 4 (almost flat), 6, and 8 (slightly curved).

Also, consider interchangeable knives, very popular in Japan, available with three specific blades for engraving:

• Straight ambidextrous blade (Hangi To)
• Curved blade
• Flat blade (Aisuki)

The first two blades are perfect for making white lines in 2 passes and outlining. The last one is perfectly flat and can be used to flatten the background, much like the flat gouges.