I'm working on an article about the uses of tracing paper. I'm trying to recall all the varieties of transparent paper and their characteristics. If I've forgotten a type or overlooked some key information, please let me know in the comments.
• Flimsy | Lightweight and very transparent tracing paper in white or yellow. Resists bleed-through. Comes in a roll up to 48 inches wide by 100 yards long.
• Tracing paper | Most universal paper for sketching, overlays, corrections, tracing, and transfer. Usually sold in pads, quite transparent.
• Onion skin | A thin, light paper made for typewriters in a time when airmail rates demanded light weight. The slightly waxy surface allows for relatively easy erasures. Term “onion-skinning” used in digital world to describe the ghosted display of adjacent frames.
• Animation paper | Sturdy but translucent paper punched for alignment pegs and designed for pencil and pen.
• Layout paper | Smooth-surface bond, slightly transparent, takes markers without bleeding through.
• Cotton Vellum | Typically comes in rolls, made from 100% pure cotton fiber, archival, sturdy, and ideal for inking, transferring a drawing, or making a blueprint.
12 comments:
When I was younger we used Baking paper or greaseproof paper from the kitchen for tracing.
Hi James, Polyester drafting film (Usually refereed to as Mylar) is tough stuff and nice to use.
It’s what I use for producing boat plans that will be Dyeline Printed, though its hard to find printing firms who are still using Dyeline.
Thanks for your as always interesting blog, Dave.
Dave Rolstone
Hi James, Polyester drafting film (Usually refereed to as Mylar) is tough stuff and nice to use.
It’s what I use for producing boat plans that will be Dyeline Printed, though its hard to find printing firms who are still using Dyeline.
Thanks for your as always interesting blog, Dave.
BackRoad: While not tracing paper, I've used clear plastic sheets to overlay, trace on the plastic with marker, then use it under another paper for the outline. Similar to tracing paper, but transparent.
And of course, not all tracing paper can be used for water based media. Some of it leaves a waxy substance (almost like a resist) behind.
I am currently using Bienfang Graphics 360 for a project. I am wondering if that is what you are referring to when you say Layout Paper. It is great for doing marker comps or storyboard sketches also. I love that it comes in the larger sized pads.
I'm not sure which categories this might fall under, but Yupo makes a variety of "paper" (I think it's actually plastic) and one of their types is translucent, which make for an excellent tracing surface.
Flimsy in the architectural world is call BUMWAD.
In the architectural world "Flimsy" is called BUMWAD!
The poor man's tracing paper is a window or sliding glass door.
I've heard New Yorker artists like Charles Saxon used to do their final line art on tracing and probably after fixing it to a board somehow, adding grey or color washes. Best I could find is a Syracuse Univ inventory describing the work as on "lightweight paper in heavy black pencil." There was another New Yorker type who worked in a similar style.
I've also see figure drawing in charcoal and turp or lighter fluid (!) on tracing.
Marc, I'm glad you mentioned that about Saxon, whose work I adore. You remind me too of the Mexican illustrator Sergio Martinez. He does many of his finishes on tracing paper, with the line on the front size of the paper and the color on the back.
Hi this is Lynnwood:) There is a wonderful book called"Cartoon County" by Cullen Murphy,whose father was the last artist to illustrate the comic strip"Prince Valiant" Its beautifullly written,about his dad and his friends,all artists, illustrators and cartoonists who all lived in the same county in n Connecticut in the 50's and 60's.Its very funny.. and moving too. a lot about Charles Saxon and of course many others.The art in this book is simply a feast....and a lot of stuff these guys just st did for their own pleasure! One of the best books I've read in years.
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