Papers, Continued
Paper types
Before you select a paper, choose the media. Papers suitable for one media
are not suitable for another. Briefly, here is a general list of papers you will
find in Navy graphics shops and their intended uses.
STENCIL BOARD: A cheap, low quality, oil-soaked board intended for use
as a stencil and thrown away. Stencil board is oil soaked to resist saturation
from both oil- and water-based pigments and strong enough to withstand
rough handling. Stencil board is not suitable for illustrations or paintings and
over time will stain any other item it touches.
GOLDENROD: Goldenrod provides rigid support for negatives stripped
together as a page before exposure as a printing plate. Goldenrod is golden
orange in color and has a grid. Paper size corresponds with plate dimensions
of the printing presses.
SARAL PAPER or CARBON PAPER: Saral paper is an image transfer
paper available in various pastel hues. Carbon paper is an image transfer
paper available in blue or black. These papers are similar in their ability to
transfer images; however, saral paper erases easier than carbon paper.
SCRATCHBOARD: Scratchboard is a hot-pressed illustration board with a
gesso-coated (chalk) surface covered by a dense black pigment. You draw on
it by using a set of scratching knives to produce a white line on a black
background.
The resulting art resembles a woodcut or linoleum engraving.
TRACING PAPER (VELLUM): Rag content (cotton fiber) determines the
quality of tracing paper or vellum. Tracing paper and vellum may be
transparent or translucent, bright white or dull blue, and plain or gridded.
Tracing paper takes ink and pencil well; however, large areas of opaque ink
will curl the paper when the ink dries. The primary purpose of tracing or
vellum is in technical drawing, drafting, and viewgraph production using
diazo processes.
COATED STOCK: Paper or illustration board has a smooth and glossy
coated surface. Coated stock is ideal for fine ink drawings and illustrations
where a smooth surface is desirable.
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