I have had questions about how the ink gets onto the plate. I mix my ink on a tempered glass paint palette. I use el cheapo palette knives to do this enjoyable task. Someday I will upgrade, and mixing will be even more fun. I use an el cheapo brayer to roll out the ink until it's even and the right texture. Using so-so tools will make me really appreciate the grown-up versions of these tools when I do get them.
I use the brayer to apply the ink to the plate.
I use a little gadget called a baren to rub the back.
Then I do it again and again for about an hour and a half, and end up with this:
