Screentones

Screentones are a traditional graphic art technique used primarily in manga and comic book art to add shading, texture, and patterns to black and white illustrations. They consist of transparent sheets of acetate or plastic with a printed pattern of dots, lines, or other designs. These sheets are then applied to artwork.

The process involves placing the screentone sheet over the inked drawing and then scratching away the unwanted areas of the screentone using a craft knife or specialized tools. This technique allows artists to create subtle gradations of gray, simulate different textures like fabric or hair, and add visual interest without resorting to time-consuming manual cross-hatching or stippling. Different patterns and dot densities offer a wide range of tonal values.

Screentones were widely used in professional comic and manga production for decades due to their efficiency and the distinctive aesthetic they provided. They allowed for a faster workflow compared to traditional shading methods. While digital art has largely replaced physical screentones in modern production, many artists still appreciate their unique look and tactile quality. Digital software now offers libraries of screentone patterns that can be applied digitally, mimicking the traditional effect.