How to Do Gyotaku Fish Rubbing

The easiest and most popular method, as well as the most similar to the original methods used in the 1800s.

1. 1
   Coat the subject in a light layer of ink. Using a brush or your fingers, work along the grain and apply a thin, even coat of ink across your subject.

   • Avoid rubbing ink over the subject's eyes. They can't be printed properly as the cornea prevents ink from entering, nor will the ink hold well due to their gelatinous nature.
2. 2
   Remove any excess ink. Excess ink can create messy blobs on the print, thus, before applying the paper, use a clean, dry cloth and carefully pat dry any areas that have too much ink.

   • Remove any wrinkles in your cloth before attempting to blot off exess ink, as the lines formed will transfer onto the print.
   • If you've gotten ink on the eyes, wipe it off before proceeding.
   • Try not to remove too much ink, else there won't be enough detail. Learning how much ink is too much/little comes with practice.
3. 3
   Apply the paper onto your subject. Lay the paper over the subject, then, starting in the center, lightly rub the paper into your subject to transfer the ink to onto the paper

   • Avoid creasing the paper too much. Small creases are fine and can add beauty to your print, but it's best to avoid adding too many.
   • Placing a cloth in between your hands and the paper helps to give a more even pressure, while using your hands alone can give a more rustic appearance.
   • Don't allow the paper to shift, or else the ink will smear and make your print look messy.
4. 4
   Gently peel the paper off of your subject. Hold two corners of the paper and slowly peel it upwards off of the subject, then check the print to see if you're satisfied with it.

   • If you're satisfied, move on to the final steps, otherwise restart the process using a new sheet of paper.
5. 5
   Paint the eyes onto the print (optional). While not strictly necessary, adding the eyes (if they appear in the print) can make it look more life-like and complete.

   • It also helps get rid of the print's soulless gaze.
6. 6
   Let the print dry. Place your print in a dry, open area, such as on a clothesline, to dry. Congrats, you're pretty much done!

   • At this point, if you used non-toxic ink/paint for your printing, you can wash off the fish and eat it.
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A more painstaking method than Chokusetsu-hō, but more precise in nature.

1. 1
   Place a slightly damp sheet of paper over the subject. Lightly spray a sheet of paper with water so it's no longer as stiff, then place it over the fish.

   • DO NOT soak the paper.
   • If you're using rice paper, place the rough side downwards so that it faces the subject.
2. 2
   Mould the paper around the subject. Press the paper into the fish such that it takes on the shape of the subject. Take care not to press so hard as to actually tear the paper.

   • Try to avoid creating large creases in the paper. Small creases are fine and can add beauty to your print, but it's best to avoid adding too many.
   • This can be tricky if you're working with a large subject. Ask for assistance if necessary.
3. 3
   Apply ink onto the paper. Using a brush or your fingers, rub ink onto the areas where the paper and the subject are touching, taking care not to shift the paper in the process.

   • Once again, avoid putting ink where the eyes are, as they don't print very well. They'll be painted or drawn on separately later on.
4. 4
   Remove the paper. Reach under the subject and peel off the paper from around the it.
5. 5
   Paint the eyes (optional). While not strictly necessary, adding the eyes (if they appear in the print) can make the whole thing seem more life-like and complete.

   • It also helps get rid of the print's soulless gaze.
6. 6
   Let everything dry. Place the print in a dry, open area such as on a clothesline, and allow it time to dry completely.

   • At this point, if you used non-toxic ink/paint for your printing, you can wash off the fish and eat it.
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The least known method, it allows for prints to be made on hard surfaces such as wood or stone.

1. 1
   Print the subject like in Chokusetsu-hō, using a sheet of nylon instead of paper. Nylon used here as the ink/paint would be absorbed directly into the paper.
2. 2
   Apply the nylon sheet onto the desired surface. Slowly, with the ink facing towards the desired surface, apply the nylon onto the surface, then press on top of the ink to transfer it. Take care not let it shift.

   • You may need help for this step.
   • Rubbing the ink may cause it to spread unevenly.
3. 3
   Remove the nylon. Take two corners and carefully pull it back and away from the surface.
4. 4
   Paint the eyes (optional). While not strictly necessary, adding the eyes (if they appear in the print) can make the whole thing seem more life-like and complete.
5. 5
   Let everything dry.

   • At this point, if you used non-toxic ink/paint for your printing, you can wash off the fish and eat it.
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1. 1
   Paint your print. Once the initial print is dry, you can apply some paint on top of it to add extra definition of color, making it look more complete.

   • Defining the outline can make your subject stand out more, especially if you choose to add a background.
   • Highlight the underside of the fish by painting it a lighter color than the body. This can make the print appear more 3 dimensional, and suggest a light source.
2. 2
   Add a background. Leaving the background blank is fine, but there's nothing wrong with filling out out your canvas.
3. 3
   Sign the print. Signing your name on the print marks it as your work; very important should you choose to share or sell it.

   • You can also label the print with the subjet's species or include something cool like a bit of poetry.
4. 4
   Frame your creation. Nothing makes a print look more complete that when it's been framed. You can make one at home, or purchase one at a hobby store.
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1. 1
   Print on fabric instead. Gyotaku works well on fabrics, and can be done just as easily.

   • Be sure to use ink/paint specifically meant for fabrics, and to follow the instructions on the packaging, otherwise the print may not set properly.
2. 2
   Make a rainbow print by using diferent colors of ink. Prints don't have to be monochrome. Spice things up by using more than one color!

   • You can coat your subject with different colors of ink before applying the paper.
3. 3
   Print multiple subjects at a time. Who says each print has to have one subject each?
4. 4
   Create ghost images (Chokusetsu-hō). Make a print then lift off the paper. Move the paper slightly to the side, then pressing it back down onto the subject. This can make it look like there's extra fish in the background.

   • Don't apply extra ink if you're doing this, as the ghost image will be too bold.
5. 5
   Get creative with the eyes. Most people choose to paint realistic looking eyes; spice your print up by sticking on objects instead!

   • A few examples include googly eyes, buttons ands stones. Go wild!
6. 6
   Turn your print into an engraving (Tensha-hō). If your print is on a "soft" material such as wood, why not make it more permanent and actually engrave it into the surface?
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