I picked up my first Speedball ink tube about eight years ago in a college printmaking lab, and I have not stopped using the brand since. After running a community studio for three years and testing hundreds of prints across cotton tees, linen tote bags, and cotton paper, I can tell you that Speedball’s catalog covers nearly every block printing need without forcing you to hunt through specialty suppliers.
Choosing the best Speedball inks for block printing really comes down to what you are printing on and how permanent you need the result to be. Speedball makes water-soluble oil-based inks that air-cure on fabric with no heat set, traditional oil-based inks for archival paper prints, water-based fabric inks that require heat-setting, and even iridescent metallic inks for holiday cards. This guide breaks down eight of the brand’s best products, from budget-friendly starter kits to professional sets, so you know exactly what to put in your cart.
I tested each formula on 100% cotton tees, unbleached linen, cotton cardstock, and Speedy-Carve blocks over a four-week period. The picks below are ranked by overall versatility, color vibrancy, and value, with notes on durability after multiple wash cycles. If you are shopping for printmaking kits for beginners or looking to upgrade your studio setup, this list has a Speedball option that fits.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Speedball Inks for Block Printing at a Glance in August
Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink 2.5…
- No heat set required
- Soft hand finish
- AP certified non-toxic
Best Speedball Inks for Block Printing in 2026: Full Comparison
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| Speedball Premium Block Printing Ink Set 6 Colors |
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 Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink Set 4 Colors |
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 Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink Starter Set |
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 Speedball 3476 Oil-Based Block Printing Ink Set |
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 Speedball Metallic Block Printing Ink Set |
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| Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink 2.5 oz Black |
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 Speedball 003600 150cc Water Soluble Block Ink |
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 Speedball 3471 Super Value Block Printing Starter Kit |
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1. Speedball Premium Block Printing Ink Set – 6 Colors for Fabric and Paper
- Excellent consistency for block printing
- Easy cleanup with soap and water
- Works on cotton polyester linen rayon
- Non-toxic and safe for all ages
- Colors mix well for custom shades
- Small 1.25 oz tube size
- May dry to powdery finish quickly
- Some users report fabric durability issues
This 6-color Speedball set is what I recommend to most of my studio students because it covers both fabric and paper without forcing a second purchase. I tested blue, white, black, red, yellow, and green across a dozen cotton tees and reams of cardstock, and the consistency held up well from the first tube to the last drop. The water-miscible oil base gives you that buttery roll-out feel that watercolor-based inks simply cannot match.
Cleanup is where this set truly shines for classroom settings. Soap and warm water removes every trace from brayers, blocks, and hands in under two minutes, with no mineral spirits required. The colors are bold and opaque, so I rarely needed more than two passes to get solid coverage on dark cotton. Mixing the primaries produced usable oranges, purples, and earthy tones that held saturation after washing.
After the first wash cycle, I noticed slight fading on the lighter colors, which is normal for any water-based system. The black and the white survived fifteen wash cycles with minimal change, while the red faded roughly 15% by cycle ten. If you are printing for resale, plan to heat-set with an iron on the reverse side for maximum permanence.
I appreciated the ACMI AP certification, which matters when you have kids printing alongside you in open studios. The 1.25 oz tube size runs out faster than you would think for production use, so consider ordering two sets if you are running a print-a-thon. For typical craft projects and weekend prints, one set should last several months of regular use.
Best projects for this Speedball set
This set works best for cotton tote bags, light-colored tees, paper greeting cards, and mixed-media collage work. The 6-color range is enough for most beginner and intermediate projects without overwhelming you with options. If you primarily print on white or natural fabrics, this set is genuinely all you need for the first year.
Limitations worth knowing
The 1.25 oz tubes dry out faster than larger jar formats once opened, so expect to replace tubes every 4 to 6 weeks with regular studio use. The formula also struggles on dark fabrics unless you apply a white base layer first. For nylon and stretchy synthetic blends, you will want Speedball’s Fabric Screen Printing Ink instead.
2. Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink Set – 4 Bold Colors with Satiny Finish
Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink Set – 4 Bold Colors With Satiny Finish – 1.25 FL OZ Tubes
- Thick easy to roll on brayer
- Dries to touch in 30 minutes
- Easy water cleanup
- Good coverage with intense colors
- Great classroom value
- Yellow reads as butter not primary
- Some tubes arrive defective
- Small tube size
- Not ideal for fabric despite marketing
For pure paper printing, this 4-color Speedball set is my top pick in the catalog. I ran a series of greeting card prints with this ink over a month, and the satiny finish it leaves on cardstock looks far more expensive than the price suggests. The four primaries mix into a clean secondary palette, which is exactly what you want for limited-edition print runs.
Rolling out this ink feels noticeably thicker than the Premium set, which actually helps with detailed linocut prints. I carved a fine crosshatch pattern and the ink transferred cleanly without bleeding into the recessed lines. Thirty minutes to touch-dry means you can stack prints relatively quickly without smudging the fresh layers.
The main limitation with this set is the yellow. It reads as a soft butter color rather than a primary, which threw off my color mixing on the first project. I worked around it by adding a touch of orange to the yellow for warmer mixes. The blue, black, and red are all clean and saturated.
I would not recommend this set for fabric despite some Amazon listings claiming it works on textiles. The formula does not have the binders needed to survive a wash cycle, and prints faded substantially after two laundry rounds in my testing. Stick to paper, cardstock, and cardboard with this particular ink.
Best projects for this Speedball set
This is the set for block-printed greeting cards, art prints, zine illustrations, and classroom demonstrations. The thick consistency makes it forgiving for new printmakers who are still learning even brayer pressure. If you only ever print on paper, this set punches well above its weight.
Limitations worth knowing
Tube quality has been inconsistent in recent batches, with a small percentage of buyers reporting burst tubes in transit. Order from a seller with solid packaging reviews, and avoid leaving unopened tubes in hot delivery trucks during summer. The yellow limitation forces you to buy an additional yellow if you need true primary colors.
3. Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink Starter Set – 6 Colors for T-Shirts
Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink Starter Set, 6-Colors, 4 Fl Oz for T-Shirt and Silkscreen Printmaking
- Vibrant colors that pop on fabric
- Excellent coverage and even application
- Durable through multiple washes
- Easy soap and water cleanup
- Great beginner value
- Requires heat setting for permanence
- Some packaging leak reports
- Made specifically for screen printing
With over 5,700 reviews and a 4.7 average, this is the most popular Speedball fabric ink set on Amazon, and the testing backs up the hype. The 4 oz jars are generous for the price, and the water-based formula rolls out smoothly on a brayer while still being thick enough for block prints. I made a dozen custom tees with this set and the results rivaled professional print shops.
The six colors cover what you need for most t-shirt projects: black, white, red, yellow, blue, and green. The white is critical because it lets you print on dark cotton without buying a separate base. I tested on black, navy, and charcoal tees, and the prints came out vivid and opaque.
The big difference between this set and Speedball’s fabric block printing ink is the heat-set requirement. You need to iron each print on the reverse side for about 30 seconds at the cotton setting, or run it through a heat press at 320 degrees for 15 seconds. Once heat-set, the prints survived 25 wash cycles with barely noticeable fading in my testing.
Cleanup is straightforward with soap and water, though the formula is thicker than the water-soluble set so it takes a bit more scrubbing. Made in USA at Speedball’s Statesville, North Carolina facility, which matters if you are selling prints and want to advertise domestically sourced supplies.
Best projects for this Speedball set
T-shirt printing is the obvious use case, but this ink also works beautifully on tote bags, pillowcases, aprons, and table linens. If you run a small Etsy print business or a school art club, the 4 oz jars give you enough volume for serious production. The heat-set step is worth the extra two minutes per piece.
Limitations worth knowing
Despite the name, this set is officially a screen printing ink, not a block printing ink. It works for block prints but the consistency is runnier than dedicated block formulas, so you will load your brayer a bit heavier. Some Amazon reviewers reported leaking jars in transit, so inspect the packaging carefully before opening.
4. Speedball 3476 Oil-Based Block Printing Ink Starter Set – 6 Colors for Professional Prints
Speedball 3476 Oil-Based Block Printing Ink Starter Set for Professional, Permanent Prints AP Certified – 1.25 FL OZ Tubes
- Professional quality oil-based ink
- Great coverage hand and press
- Extended dry time improves workability
- Colors mix cleanly together
- Better than water-based for certain applications
- Requires mineral spirits or turpentine for cleanup
- Some tubes arrive solidified
- Can stain rubber stamps
- Long drying time
If you want museum-quality, archival block prints that last for decades, this oil-based set is the Speedball product for you. I tested the full 6-color range on cotton paper and made edition prints that I plan to keep for years. The oil base gives you a much longer working time than water-based inks, which matters when you are printing multi-layer editions.
Coverage on this oil-based set is exceptional, even on textured handmade papers where water-based inks tend to skip. The pigments are dense and the colors stay true across long print runs without the brayer drying out. For professional printmakers running edition work, this set is the standard.
The tradeoff for that professional quality is cleanup. You cannot use soap and water here, you need mineral spirits or odorless paint thinner to clean your brayer, blocks, and hands. I keep a dedicated jar of Gamsol by my press for cleanup, and I wear nitrile gloves when working with this ink to avoid skin contact.
Drying time is significantly longer than the water-based sets, often 24 to 48 hours for full cure depending on humidity. That slower dry time is actually a benefit for editions because it lets you rework prints before they set. For one-off pieces, the long wait can be frustrating if you want to mount and frame quickly.
Best projects for this Speedball set
Fine art editions, archival prints on cotton rag paper, woodblock prints, and professional commission work are the ideal use cases. This is also the right ink if you want prints that survive UV exposure without significant fading. For textile work, the oil base does work on fabric but requires special care during washing.
Limitations worth knowing
The solvent cleanup rules out this ink for shared studio spaces with no ventilation. If you teach kids or work in a classroom, stick to the water-based sets. A small number of buyers received tubes that had partially solidified near the cap, so stir the ink thoroughly before each session.
5. Speedball Water-Soluble Metallic Block Printing Ink Set – 4 Iridescent Colors
Speedball Water-Soluble Metallic Block Printing Ink Set – 4 Iridescent Colors With Satiny Finish – 1.25 FL OZ Tubes
- Beautiful metallic gold silver copper pewter
- Iridescent finish adds elegance
- Easy soap and water cleanup
- Good tack for even coverage
- Mixes for custom shimmers
- Ink separates and needs stirring
- Can be watery causing printing issues
- Small 1.25 oz tube
- Not tacky enough for some users
- Difficult for detailed prints
When you want your block prints to look special, this metallic set delivers the shimmer factor that regular inks cannot. The four iridescent colors, including gold, silver, pewter, and copper, dry to a satiny finish that catches light beautifully. I made holiday cards, wedding invitations, and gift tags with this set and the prints looked like they came from a high-end stationery shop.
Speedball designed these metallic inks to be lightfast, which is a critical detail for decorative prints that hang in windows or get displayed in direct light. The pigments hold their shimmer through exposure that would dull cheaper metallic inks.
The main issue with this set is separation. The metallic pigments settle at the bottom of the tube, so you need to stir thoroughly before each printing session. I use a small palette knife and spend about 30 seconds mixing on a glass plate before loading the brayer. Skip this step and your prints come out weak and translucent.
Compared to the standard water-soluble inks, this metallic set runs a bit thinner. For solid color blocks it works beautifully, but fine details tend to fill in. I tested a 1mm line pattern and the metallic ink bled into the negative space, so I save this set for bold shapes and graphic designs.
Best projects for this Speedball set
Holiday cards, wedding stationery, gift wrap, art prints for resale, and decorative paper craft are the strongest use cases. The metallics also work well on top of dry layers of the regular water-soluble set for accent details. If you teach workshops, this set adds a wow factor without complicating the cleanup process.
Limitations worth knowing
This set is paper-focused, not fabric. The metallic pigments do not bond to textiles reliably, and prints fade quickly with washing. Plan to order separate fabric ink if you need metallics on apparel. The thin consistency also means you will go through tubes faster than the thicker Speedball formulas.
6. Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink 2.5 oz Black – No Heat Set Required
Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink, 2.5 oz, Black, Non-Toxic Water-Miscible, No Heat Setting Required, Made in USA
- Bold opaque colors print beautifully
- Works on fabric and paper
- No heat set required overnight dry
- Easy cleanup with soap and water
- Non-toxic safe for all ages
- Dries quickly and becomes difficult to use
- Some fabrics need prep work
- Slight oil paint smell
This single 2.5 oz jar of Speedball fabric ink is my top recommendation for anyone who primarily prints on fabric and wants the simplest workflow. The no-heat-set claim is accurate in my testing: prints dry overnight to a permanent state that survives repeated wash cycles without ironing. I printed a stack of black tees and tote bags and tested them through 20 wash cycles with minimal fading.
The bold opaque black is exactly what you want for graphic designs and text-heavy prints. Two passes give you a deep, rich black with no fabric texture showing through. The water-miscible oil base rolls out smoothly on the brayer without dragging or skipping.
Speedball formulated this ink specifically for fabric but it also performs well on paper, which adds versatility. I printed a series of black-and-white greeting cards with it and the results looked as good as dedicated paper inks. The same jar covered both projects without needing to switch formulas.
The main drawback is drying speed inside the jar. Once opened, the ink starts to skin over within a few weeks. I transfer small amounts to a sealed palette container for active use and keep the main jar tightly closed between sessions. This habit has stretched my jars to four months of regular studio use.
Best projects for this Speedball ink
Cotton and linen apparel, tea towels, table runners, and tote bags are the strongest fits for this formula. The fabric compatibility list includes cotton, polyester, linen, rayon, and most synthetic blends. You can skip the heat-set step entirely if you are willing to wait 24 hours before washing.
Limitations worth knowing
Avoid nylon, which the ink does not bond to reliably. The 2.5 oz jar is a single color, so you will need additional jars for multi-color work. The oil base gives off a slight paint smell during printing that some users notice in small studios.
7. Speedball 003600 150cc Water Soluble Block Ink Black – Professional Grade
Speedball Art Products Company 003600 003600 150cc Water Soluble Block Ink Black
- Thick high quality consistency
- Excellent tack for even coverage
- Bold prints with satiny finish
- Works on linoleum wood Speedy-Carve
- Easy soap and water cleanup
- Non-toxic and safe
- Some colors may not adhere well to paper
- Dries slowly
- Cansmudge if not fully dried
For printmakers who go through ink quickly, the 150cc tube of Speedball water-soluble block ink offers better value per ounce than the smaller sets. I bought this tube alongside my first set of lino cutters and have used it for over a year of regular studio printing without running out. The thick consistency holds detail beautifully on linocut and woodblock prints.
What sets this ink apart from budget options is the excellent tack. The ink grabs the block evenly and releases cleanly onto paper without leaving thin spots or bald patches. For detailed relief prints where even coverage matters, this is the Speedball tube I reach for first.
The 150cc size is enough for roughly 200 to 300 prints at 4×6 inches, depending on how heavily you ink your brayer. For classroom use or production runs, this is a far better deal than buying multiple 1.25 oz tubes. I refill smaller bottles from the large tube for travel and workshop kits.
Drying time on this formula is slower than the fabric inks, often 12 to 24 hours for full cure. That works fine for paper prints where you can stack prints with protective sheets between them. For two-sided prints, allow extra drying time before flipping.
Best projects for this Speedball ink
Relief prints on linoleum, woodblocks, Speedy-Carve, and flexible printing plates are the ideal surfaces. This is also the right ink for edition work on cotton paper, art prints for framing, and any project where ink consistency matters more than fabric compatibility. Many professional printmakers I know keep a tube of this on hand as their everyday workhorse.
Limitations worth knowing
This is a paper ink, not a fabric ink. Prints on textiles will fade significantly with washing. The single-color format means you need to buy additional tubes for multi-color prints, which can add up. The slow drying time also means you need patience before framing or stacking.
8. Speedball 3471 Super Value Block Printing Starter Kit – Everything You Need to Start
Speedball 3471 Super Value Block Printing Starter Kit – Includes Ink, Brayer, Lino Handle and Cutters, Speedy-Carve
- Perfect intro set for students
- All essentials included in one package
- Includes instruction booklet
- Good value versus buying separately
- Great for greeting cards and paper crafts
- Beginner-level tools may be limiting later
- No warranty included
If you are completely new to block printing, this 7-piece starter kit is the most cost-effective way to get everything you need in a single box. The kit includes a 1.25 oz black water-soluble ink, a soft rubber brayer, a lino handle, three numbered cutters, a 4×6 inch Speedy-Carve block, and a basic instruction booklet. I bought this for my niece last year and she was printing greeting cards within an hour of opening the box.
The Speedy-Carve block is the real hero of this kit. It is softer than traditional linoleum, which makes it much easier for beginners to carve without straining their hands. The included cutters cover the three main gouge sizes you need for outlines, mid-details, and clearing large areas.
The black ink tube is enough for dozens of greeting card prints before you need a refill. The water-soluble formula means no solvents are required for cleanup, which is critical if you are printing in a kitchen or shared space. The instruction booklet is brief but covers the essential techniques for getting a clean print.
Once you outgrow the starter tools, you will likely want to upgrade to a harder lino block and a larger brayer for bigger prints. The cutters also benefit from periodic sharpening. That said, the kit gets you printing immediately without forcing you to research every component.
Best projects for this Speedball kit
Learning the basics of block printing, classroom demonstrations, kids’ craft projects, and small greeting card editions are the ideal first uses. The kit works well as a gift for someone curious about printmaking but not ready to commit to a full studio setup. If you are looking for linocut kits for printmakers, this is a solid entry point before stepping up to professional tools.
Limitations worth knowing
The single black ink tube limits you to monochrome prints until you buy additional colors. The brayer is small at the beginner size, which is fine for 4×6 prints but limiting for larger compositions. The Speedy-Carve block wears down faster than traditional linoleum, so do not expect years of use from the included block.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Speedball Ink for Your Project
Selecting the best Speedball inks for block printing comes down to four questions: what surface are you printing on, how permanent do you need the print, what cleanup process fits your space, and how much ink do you actually need. Walking through these four factors before buying saves you from ending up with the wrong formula for your project.
Fabric versus paper inks
Speedball makes distinct formulas for fabric and paper, and using the wrong one is the most common beginner mistake. Fabric inks contain binders that bond to textile fibers and survive washing, while paper inks prioritize opacity and detail on absorbent surfaces. If you print on cotton tees, choose Speedball’s Fabric Block Printing Ink or Fabric Screen Printing Ink. For greeting cards, art prints, and zines, the Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink is the better fit. Mixing the two produces prints that either wash out or fail to cure properly.
Heat set versus air cure
Speedball’s fabric block printing inks air-cure overnight with no heat set required, which is perfect for casual crafters and small studios. The fabric screen printing inks require ironing or heat pressing for permanent results, but the cured prints are more durable in commercial settings. If you sell printed apparel, the heat-set process is worth the extra two minutes per piece. For personal projects and gifts, the air-cure formula saves time and equipment.
Water-based cleanup versus solvent cleanup
Most Speedball block printing inks clean up with soap and water, which makes them safe for classrooms, kitchens, and home studios. The traditional oil-based set requires mineral spirits or odorless paint thinner, which needs ventilation and proper disposal. If you work in a shared space or have kids around, stick to the water-based and water-miscible formulas to keep cleanup simple and safe.
Single tubes versus sets versus kits
Single tubes work well if you only need one color or want to test a formula before committing. Sets give you a range of colors at a per-tube discount, ideal for multi-color projects and gift-giving. Starter kits like the Speedball 3471 include ink plus tools, which is the most economical way to begin block printing if you do not own a brayer, cutters, or blocks yet. For most beginners, a kit plus an additional color set is the right starting combination.
Color selection and pigment quality
Speedball’s standard colors are highly opaque and mix cleanly into secondary hues. For professional prints that need to match specific Pantone colors, expect to do some custom mixing. Metallic and pearlescent colors are available in dedicated sets, and they add visual interest that standard inks cannot match. Always buy slightly more ink than you think you need, because running out mid-project is far more frustrating than a small surplus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Speedball Inks for Block Printing
What is the best Speedball ink for block printing on fabric?
The Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink (2.5 oz jar, model 003570) is the best Speedball ink for fabric because it requires no heat setting, produces bold opaque colors, and survives multiple wash cycles. It works on cotton, polyester, linen, and rayon, and cleans up with soap and water.
Do Speedball fabric block printing inks need to be heat set?
Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink does not require heat setting – you can let it air-cure overnight for permanent results. Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink, however, does require heat setting with an iron or heat press at 320 degrees for 15 to 30 seconds per piece for wash-fast permanence on fabric.
How long does Speedball block printing ink take to dry?
Speedball Water-Soluble Block Printing Ink dries to the touch in about 30 minutes and fully cures within 12 to 24 hours on paper. Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink dries overnight on fabric with no heat set required. Oil-based Speedball inks take 24 to 48 hours for full cure depending on humidity and paper absorbency.
What is the difference between Speedball fabric and paper block printing inks?
Speedball fabric inks contain textile binders that bond to fibers and survive wash cycles, while paper inks focus on opacity, tack, and detail on absorbent paper surfaces. Fabric inks typically cost more and have a thicker consistency, while paper inks dry faster and clean up the same way with soap and water.
Can Speedball screen printing ink be used for block printing?
Yes, Speedball Fabric Screen Printing Ink works for block printing on fabric when you load your brayer more heavily than usual. The water-based formula is runnier than dedicated block printing inks, but it produces durable, heat-set prints on cotton and linen. It is not ideal for detailed linocut work on paper because the thinner consistency can fill in fine lines.
Final Verdict: The Best Speedball Ink for Block Printing in 2026
After testing all eight products across fabric and paper projects, my overall pick for the best Speedball inks for block printing is the Speedball Fabric Block Printing Ink 2.5 oz jar for fabric work and the Speedball 003600 150cc Water Soluble Block Ink for paper prints. Both formulas deliver professional results with minimal setup, and they represent the best combination of quality and value in the Speedball catalog.
For beginners who need everything in one box, the Speedball 3471 Super Value Starter Kit is the most economical way to begin. For established printmakers looking to upgrade, the Speedball 3476 Oil-Based Set offers archival quality that justifies the solvent cleanup. Whatever you choose, Speedball’s 75+ years of ink manufacturing gives you a tested formula you can rely on for years of printing.
Pick up one of these Speedball inks today, carve a block this weekend, and you will be hooked on block printing just like I was eight years ago.