Zippotone, Duotone or any other good screen tone

[Karl Stephan]

Hi guys. I've been looking around for sheets of screen tone to apply to my attempts at comics. I've grown a little disenchanted with the ol' Potatoshop way of doing things and thought it would be way cool to take a traditional approach to the business at hand.

Right, so does anyone know where I can find a few sheets of non-manga screen tone or (first choice, but I don't think they make it anymore) Duo Shade Paper as used by Mirage Studios back in the day.

[TordelBack]

I heartily endorse your proposed use of letratone/zippatone/sticky dotty stuff, both from fond memories of my days as a cartographer-for-hire and from the fact that many of my favourite comics were made with the stuff.  However, before you go too far down that route, make absolutely sure that what you're using scans and screens properly - moire effect horror shows are reported by Dave Sim when he went back to digitise Cerebus recently.

[Jim_Campbell]

Tordel speaks truly about scanning art with physical tone applied (although had Mr Sim asked me, I could have set him straight ) but I'm also pretty sure they don't make the stuff any more -- I spent an afternoon on Google looking for it, or some variant thereof, a couple of months ago.

I would be delighted to be informed to the contrary, however...!

Cheers

Jim

[Jim_Campbell]

A quick re-google turns up this US supplier who says they're flogging the last of their mechanical tone, since Letraset discontinued it...

http://www.bcemylar.com/CAS/screentone_sing.cfm

Cheers

Jim

[Karl Stephan]

Ah, thanks for that Jim.

@Tordelback
Yes, I believe you need to disable the anti-aliasing effect when scanning (or something). I've got a guide on it kicking about somewhere. Thanks for reminding me.

[SMUDGE10]

Dinkybox do screen tone ( do a search - I don't have the link to hand, sorry). It's japanese manga stuff but exactly the same as the old letraset sheets.

[Skullmo]

I was searching for this the other day! Anyone know if duotone / unitone paper is still made?

I discovered recently that CS10 was no longer made

[SMUDGE10]

I believe Paperpeople do a CS10 copy.
Not sure about duotone- let me know if you find some please!
:-)

[Karl Stephan]

Ta Smudge10, I found the site and will have a look through their stuff. Trying to avoid the Manga look at all costs, but perhaps they have simple dot tone there.

Otherwise, I mate of mine sent me a link to self-printable sheets by Letraset. Might get some and do some playing around. http://www.letraset.com/products/124-Safmat-Film/

[Darren Stephens]

Sparkonaut, I have a single sheet of Letraset Manga screen tone, if its any use to you. It's A4, and just dots, no jazzy wavy effects PR any of that gumph! If you want it, PM me and I'll fire it off to you.

[Karl Stephan]

Ooh, yes please. I'll pm you.

[Darren Stephens]

Ooh, yes please. I'll pm you.

No worries Mr S!

[Karl Stephan]

Thanks to Darren, I got a chance to try out the Letraset tone:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123207987@N08/13820044663/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/123207987@N08/13820045383/

I'm happy with the results, but it does take long tracing and then cutting out the required shapes - which, is probably the reason this method isn't very popular. Still, I think It'll be easier with a craft knife rather than a pair of scissors.

I wish Duo Shade was still being made. that stuff is certainly the holy grail of all non-digital toning techniques: http://blip.tv/fauxpop-tv/chasing-turtles-ep12-sneak-peeks-peter-laird-6432339

[Skullmo]

I used to have an original page of Turtles from the 80s they were tiny and on duo shade paper.

[Darren Stephens]

Good stuff, Karl. Glad you made use of the tone sheets.