Alternate way to produce film positives.

I don't know if this is something that is widely known in the printing community, but it shocked my printmaking professor when it worked.

Tools i used were:

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...5/DSC_0977.jpg

and

http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/...5/DSC_0982.jpg

I printed a 3 color, 18x24" print using these to make my film positives (2 colors done with this, and the key layer on rubylith). i had no problems exposing, wash-out was clean and crisp. Of course, the ink does feather a bit, but i'm sure a better vellum will help avoid this. You can also find these markers in varies nib sizes to vary your line weight. I really liked the fact that the positive is a direct hand-drawing and not a p.o.s.-scanned-lazer-print.

One important thing i noticed: They sell two different types of Poster Paint markers. I found that the water-based ones are much more opaque than the oil-based. only bad thing, the water-based ones are harder to find.

I wouldn't really call this an alternative. This is 101 old school. But yes I prefer the hand drawn films as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by squeegeethree

I wouldn't really call this an alternative. This is 101 old school. But yes I prefer the hand drawn films as well.

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ahhh i see. maybe it was the fact that the sharpie worked. I was told the only way to get something opaque enough to work for exposure was to use a lithography grease pencil.

Grease pencil, Acetate Ink, Speed Opaque, Paint Markers, Micron Pens, Arcyllic Paint, Paper, Hair, Lace, Leaves, Feathers, Tape... as long as it blocks enough light during your exposure

standard sharpies don't work very well.

I need to find somewhere up here sells those posterpaint pens, they work good, and my red-o-pake and kimopake pens are too expensive. The students are always pressing too hard and plunging the tips = big mess.

Higgins Black Magic and a good brush.

Red sharpie oil-based on mylar (got mine at Opus in Vancouver). No feathering, bleeding, or reticulation. Beautiful consistent coverage. I'm also thinking of trying Nik Semenoff's toner wash

6 posts in and i already learned a handful of new tools i can use. SWEET!

We use india ink in pens and with a brush on film. No bleed at all, and if we need to correct an edge or want to add texture, an Xacto knife does the trick.

Inkjet transparencies are cheap, but plain ol' plastic shouldn't be. Has anyone come up with a good source for cheap plastic sheets that'd be good for drawing on?

Picked up a black paint marker at Wal-Mart last night, and it's as opaque as molasses. Why hadn't I thought of this before?