Dick Blick has a new material to replace the old 'grey stuff' (which was very rubbery). This material is two layered, with a grey half about 1/8 thick and a white half about 1/16 inch thick. Available in numerous sizes. Cost point is similar to pink, and more expensive than the old rubbery grey. Texture is similar to pink stuff, but copies do not transfer using the iron/heat method.

https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-readycut/

Will let you know if I like it better than my default pink.

LB

Barbie skin...that's a little creepy but I get it! Interesting...

I carve different materials for different things. Pink if I want something pretty, fairly good detail and a quick carve. OZ if I want SUPER detail and don't mind applying extra time carving and pressure. Tan Z if I want something that prints FANTASTICALLY with my press and relief inks. This stuff if I want to use my press and carve quickly. It's sort of a cross between lino and pink, but it doesn't like stamping inks. It carves like a dream.

This stuff if I want to use my press and carve quickly. It's sort of a cross between lino and pink, but it doesn't like stamping inks. It carves like a dream.

So, that stuff is used where linoleum would be used?

I think so, but it is MUCH more pleasant than lino.

This looks a lot like the unmounted Richeson easy to cut lino that I got from Utrecht. The picture on Utrecht's site is lighter than the lino is in person.

I found it easy to carve, but tough to pull prints by hand. Lots of cleanup of the chatter before printing. What press do you have?

I picked up a small slab of that material from Dick Blick. Absolutely do not do a wash of acetone on it! The acetone essentially melts the material. I'm not sure how to use it at this point.

I have pretty much used all the things (this month! Haha). I bought some different versions of the layered Japanese things, one was too soft. I had issued getting transfers on it, too.

My faves are the orange and white PZ, OZ and then Tan-Z. Tan-Z is firm enough to get detail but has a consistency I'm not sure I love right now. It is easy to carve, though. The crazy-grey is okay, but I'm glad she got some more improvements. Pink is WAY to soft for me to carve any amount of detail.

I carved my first stamp with the Tan-Z today and I'm a fan! It holds detail like OZ, but it's not as tough. It's also more forgiving of less than perfectly sharp tools.

I am completely crazy about it. It's definitely the firmest material I've ever carved, but it's not fatiguing and I feel like greater detail is possible now for me. Takes different inks very well, don't think I could be happier with it. Thanks again, Webfoot!

Geeze, you're making me want to try some! I've already spent too much money recently.