An ad for "DuoShade" paper by Grafix from the Spring 1988 issue of WITTYWORLD Magazine.Duotone paper was the choice a many cartoonists, particularly editorial cartoonists. It looked like a sheet of bristol and you could ink on it. And then, once you were done with the inking, you could open up a small bottle of clear liquid and brush on a clear chemical that would react with the paper, revealing shading lines or dots.
I've been told that the chemicals caused cancer. I've never seen proof, but several pros have told me that it was dangerous.
Regardless, the need for this product has virtually gone away with the advent of visual manipulation programs like PhotoShop. Maybe if you're a tough Reaganesque cowboy, you're way too tough to get cancer.
I think a LOT of Editorial Cartoonists still use it. They still make it. I used to use it. It is awesome.
ReplyDeleteCheck it out:
http://www.grafixarts.com/
Hi Dave. Yeah, I know a guy who uses it, but I have no idea of the firm numbers of duotone users. Goodness knows it's expensive paper.
ReplyDeleteI'd like see a poll asking what pro editorial cartoonists still use duotone. Wouldn't you think it's less than 10 percent?
Mike, you are right.
ReplyDeleteI used the phrase, "a LOT..." when probably only a few still use it.
I think I'm just trying to hold on to as many OLD SCHOOL things as I can. Seems so much gets swallowed up by the digital world.
For some reason I still like doing the art on real paper with real ink (as techie as I am), but that paper kinda makes me scared.
ReplyDeleteI played with it a little years ago. they had single tone paper, with only one tone, and duotone, with two. There were two separate chemicals for the duotone, and my one recollection (other than how totally cool and high-tech it was)was that the second chemical smelled like rotten eggs. I'm talking REALLY rotten. Didn't use it much after that.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mark...I like inking in "real life," and with the duoshade paper, you can't use white-out to fix your mistakes. Scary!
ReplyDeleteSo I just took two sheets of duoshade, exposed one completely with the light liquid, and one with the dark, scanned both of them into photoshop, and use them on my layers template for my editorial cartoons.
And the best part...I won't get cancer!
That stuff is Great! Wish I could find it at the stores. The Stuff Wally Wood and Frank Frazetta did with was simply awesome. It just doesn't have the same feel in photoshop. :(
ReplyDelete