Cross-hatching: DIE DIE DIE and other art techniques whose times have passed

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I had a roommate whose views on x-hatching have rubbed off on me in a big way. He said that with modern color printing, x-hatching should be a relic of the past because, typically, artists use them to define shaded areas. Of course, it's possible to actually PRINT those shades of color now, and often times they DO. Yet artists still cross-hatch! It drives me teh bonkers.

What's your particular bugaboo, or shoot down my beef.

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 06:07 (twenty-two years ago)

was your roommate the inspiration for the comic book guy?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Thursday, 27 May 2004 11:27 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose it's okay if you're Edward Gorey?

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It's people like that who killed zip-a-tone.

― Vic Fluro, Thursday, 27 May 2004 12:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Funny, I was going to mention zip-a-tone on this thread, but I still like it - best use undoubtedly in Cerebus though, when Richardgeorge finds it lying about after the Eddie Campbell character has gone home...

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 14:14 (twenty-two years ago)

What's zip-a-tone?

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 27 May 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

premade grey patterns you stick to your art. um.

― tom west (thomp), Thursday, 27 May 2004 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a way of greyscale shading which is made up of different sized dots and background colours. Comes on a large sheet which you cut to size.

Manufacture of it stopped in the late 80s, though Letraset continued making it under the name Letratone. You can still pick it up in some manga specialist stores, such as this one: There's a "how to use" link near the bottom of the page

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Thursday, 27 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I was roommates with him in 2000, and he was a Korean boxer. So yes, he inspired CBG.

My post didn't make it too clear: x-hatching + colors = dud. x-hatching in b&w is kosher.

― Leee's a Simpson (Leee), Thursday, 27 May 2004 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I always liked Berni Wrightson. He was the king of cross-hatching.

― scott seward (scott seward), Wednesday, 2 June 2004 16:50 (twenty-two years ago)

i like art that is b/w w no tones in it. lino-cut style. num num Dutch wood cut prints

― Jaunty Alan (Alan), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:45 (twenty-two years ago)

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