Tonal Printmaking without Photography
True-Grain is a unique high quality textured polyester drafting film which holds tone. It is a technologicalbreakthrough in the creation of hand-drawn prints since its unique textured surface and very high level of transparency allows the reproduction of very subtle washes and marks without the intermediate stage ofphotography or laser scanning. By drawing directly on True-Grain a wide range of drawing materials may be faithfully reproduced through photo-screen print lithography and etching. Most drafting films are non-textured and semi-opaque and only capable of reproducing flat solid marks drawn with opaque photographic drawing materials. It is the unique textured surface of True-Grain that holds the tone. As the wash gradually dries deep pits in the film catch the tiny particles of pigment suspended within the wash producing the halftones for transfer to photo-sensitive screens and plates. Similarly the surface grain exerts an influence on marks drawn with pencil charcoals and crayon. The broad tonal range now possible with True-Grain delivers a fully resolved drawing using far fewer colours than was required previously.
The High Level of Transparency.
For the successful transfer of subtle tonal information to the stencil material the drawing support must be as transparent as possible to create both a strong stencil and the minimum amount of resistance to ultra violet light on short exposures. Since TrueGrain has a very high level of transparency the minimum point of stencil hardening is reached with substantially shorter exposure times. These shorter exposure times also ensure the resolution of the maximum information from the artwork.
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True Grain