Make preliminary thumbnail sketches of the underlying design of your print. Use your preparatory drawings to compose the final drawing of your woodcut or wood engraving on paper. Make the drawing the same size as the wood block so you can trace it or transfer it onto the surface of the wood. Flip the drawing over for any lettering or numbers that have to be reversed.
Select a smooth piece of soft wood such as pine or fir. Lay it flat on a stable surface. Carve the design with knives, chisels, gravers, and U- and V-shaped gouges. Sharpen your tools often for clean lines. To make a print with black lines on a white ground, cut away all surfaces which are not part of the lines. Etch and cut lines into the wood for an engraving. The engraved lines will print white on a dark background.
Woodcuts are carved along the edge grain of a softwood. Carve your design with the grain. Wood engravings are cut in the end grain of hardwood with graving tools. Carve with sure strokes. Leave large areas of wood to show the grain and print in bold contrasts of dark and light. Use your value structure to create a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.
Cut in parallel lines with a knife or gouge for half-tone affects. Learn to control the edge of the knife to cut curved lines. Carve V-shaped grooves into the wood, leaving the lines wide bases to prevent chipping. Turn the cross-grain block around and work from all directions when engraving wood. Experiment with cross-hatching to define shadows.
Clean the wood and let it dry before printing. Spread out the printer's ink on a plate of glass with a spatula and roll it smooth with a roller. Roll the ink evenly onto the wood block. Use crossing strokes, lifting the roller at the end of each stroke. Place a sheet of printing paper over the block and burnish or rub the back of the paper with a smooth object like a spoon. Peel the paper off to see your print.