I remember getting that same kit Dr Martin kit when I went to the Kubert School too. I think the main reason why those were used as guides back in the day was because they never greyed out the black lines on the xeroxes. When I was coloring at Valiant (before everything went over to digital), we used those dyes for the same reason. We'd xerox the original art down to 8" x 10" on this smooth Strathmore paper stock and paint right on top of that. Those were then sent to get photographed to make the color separations and those were FeExed to the printer. Ah, the 90's...
I went to college back in the 90s and have a degree in printing technology (web press, offset, screen printing). I couldn't draw or write and I thought getting a degree in printing would let me work in comics in some way. I never used that degree for anything, but this video gave me flashbacks to color theory class.
Dr. Martin dyes were widely used in the Animation world for background painting in TV Animation and Feature Film so this may have helped their sales. Later Luma Color dyes were also used. The bright colors of the dyes were needed when many layers of transparent animation cels were laid over top of the backgrounds, greying the backgrounds somewhat with each cel.
Mechanical color processing and separations was very tedious but creative work and I only work on commercial "silk/screen" method. It was later in life that I started working on an "offset printshop" but at that time computers where mostly used for that. I recall that the early cheap paper used for comics and newspapers was called "newsprint paper". I used to do a color comic strip for a local newspaper for 4 years and be mindful of "dot gain" since newspress used more water on their rolls the "screens dots" ink would double it size and darken the colors. There was also a differences in lpi (lines per square inch) between magazines (133 lpi) and Newspapers (85 lpi). I had to punch out the black outline and lettering and reduce the color layer sometimes to 80%(using Photoshop) to avoid dark or muddy colors. Some new comic artist think everything will be handle by the computer, experience thought me that the old "know-how" of coloring is a relevant as yesterday and computers are just tools to work faster.
You will notice a difference in 90s and 80s animation backgrounds and when we switched to digital. Painters used Dr. Martins straight out of the bottle to crank through as many as possible. Damp the paper and drop on some dye, push it around a bit, dry with a hair dryer and move on. Magenta was a favourite, I have a many from Nelvana that are Magenta heavy.
Awesome work guys. I remember all of those paper types! Baxter was bleach white and looked the best new but it never aged well- I have a chipped copy of Elektra Saga as evidence. Hudson was on graphic novels and was the ultimate deluxe paper stock. Mando was the budget stepchild for premier paper stocks. It was the first push beyond newsprint in the 80s. I think Marvel age was on Mando after issue 14-15. That brings back a ton of childhood memories. Those colorists like Scheele and artists like Janson were true artist masters to achieve what they did back then. a 25 -35 cent promo mag like Marvel Age at the comicshop was a no brainer pickup for me. Keep up the great content guys!
Would be ace to see a Kayfabe episode that featured a colourist talking through an issue/book they worked on. If this hasn't already been done that is.
GREAT episode, guys! I think I might have to hunt down that issue of Marvel Age. It's interesting that Jim Starlin's Dreadstar is on the cover of that issue of Marvel Age. I can remember reading Dreadstar and I believe it was one of the comics where they started using better, whiter paper and I remember the yellows especially being really, really garish.(I hated it.)
Marvel Fanfare was a great example of a comic with bright colours that popped. I didn't understand when I was a kid why they didn't print all their titles on that kind of paper.
Love the channel guys! I’ve been devouring your entire catalogue. Any chance you can cover the continued collaboration between Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely? They are one of the most dynamic teams in modern superhero books IMO. Love to see your take on Quitley in general, as he’s matured into an artist that does much of his own inking and painting, while always evolving his pencils in specific ways that fit each projects tone.
That old crappy paper looks so good. That's why digital copies of old comics look like trash. The colors are way too bright. Does anyone know what actual stock of newsprint paper Marvel and DC used to use?
Like a big NY Strip on the scale...!! I thought the reason I can't dig digital is because my comics were on newsprint. Now we know the real reason. The color separation.
A request: Can we please get a video covering Fraction and Aja's run on Hawkeye? (But I'd settle for anything about Aja's artwork...) Regardless, thanks for your excellent videos - this must be the most competent and inspiring yt-channel on comics! Thanks guys!
Great video. I wonder if it is within your powers to get Pete Poplaski on the channel and talk to him about the coloring on the early Kitchen Sink reprints of The Spirit. Those book were (I believe) on Baxter Paper and the coloring is some of my favorite of all time. Even his coloring on the covers, though not related to Baxter Paper stuff, would be worth a deep dive as the vibrancy and color choice is unique, issue #2 being a great example. He also did the Megaton Man covers.
Ed's Patreon: www.patreon.com/edpiskor
Jim's Patreon: www.patreon.com/jimrugg
I remember getting that same kit Dr Martin kit when I went to the Kubert School too. I think the main reason why those were used as guides back in the day was because they never greyed out the black lines on the xeroxes. When I was coloring at Valiant (before everything went over to digital), we used those dyes for the same reason. We'd xerox the original art down to 8" x 10" on this smooth Strathmore paper stock and paint right on top of that. Those were then sent to get photographed to make the color separations and those were FeExed to the printer. Ah, the 90's...
When I was a kid I LOVED the smell of comics on newsprint. Thanks for the info.
I still do.
That's interesting - I never really understood how color separations were made. I like this channel so much.
I went to college back in the 90s and have a degree in printing technology (web press, offset, screen printing). I couldn't draw or write and I thought getting a degree in printing would let me work in comics in some way. I never used that degree for anything, but this video gave me flashbacks to color theory class.
This channel is just ESSENTIAL! Thank you Jim and Ed
This is the video I have wanted for such a long time. Thanks for doing it. Great stuff.
Last year I bought this exact comic and scanned the pages in High-res to make some vintage color screentones "à-la Jim Rugg" to use with my art 😘
Bought the comic from someone on Amazon because of this video! This was too cool!
Dr. Martin dyes were widely used in the Animation world for background painting in TV Animation and Feature Film so this may have helped their sales. Later Luma Color dyes were also used. The bright colors of the dyes were needed when many layers of transparent animation cels were laid over top of the backgrounds, greying the backgrounds somewhat with each cel.
Mechanical color processing and separations was very tedious but creative work and I only work on commercial "silk/screen" method. It was later in life that I started working on an "offset printshop" but at that time computers where mostly used for that. I recall that the early cheap paper used for comics and newspapers was called "newsprint paper". I used to do a color comic strip for a local newspaper for 4 years and be mindful of "dot gain" since newspress used more water on their rolls the "screens dots" ink would double it size and darken the colors. There was also a differences in lpi (lines per square inch) between magazines (133 lpi) and Newspapers (85 lpi). I had to punch out the black outline and lettering and reduce the color layer sometimes to 80%(using Photoshop) to avoid dark or muddy colors. Some new comic artist think everything will be handle by the computer, experience thought me that the old "know-how" of coloring is a relevant as yesterday and computers are just tools to work faster.
Great video. Worked in conventional printing for 4 years and picked up much of this along the way.
You will notice a difference in 90s and 80s animation backgrounds and when we switched to digital. Painters used Dr. Martins straight out of the bottle to crank through as many as possible. Damp the paper and drop on some dye, push it around a bit, dry with a hair dryer and move on. Magenta was a favourite, I have a many from Nelvana that are Magenta heavy.
Awesome work guys. I remember all of those paper types! Baxter was bleach white and looked the best new but it never aged well- I have a chipped copy of Elektra Saga as evidence. Hudson was on graphic novels and was the ultimate deluxe paper stock. Mando was the budget stepchild for premier paper stocks. It was the first push beyond newsprint in the 80s. I think Marvel age was on Mando after issue 14-15. That brings back a ton of childhood memories. Those colorists like Scheele and artists like Janson were true artist masters to achieve what they did back then. a 25 -35 cent promo mag like Marvel Age at the comicshop was a no brainer pickup for me. Keep up the great content guys!
You guys make the best videos on comics! I am big into this stuff again because of you guys. Keep it up. Thanks!
Loving the content you guys have been putting out recently! Keep it coming and stay safe
Would be ace to see a Kayfabe episode that featured a colourist talking through an issue/book they worked on. If this hasn't already been done that is.
Well...I better get searching.
Great stuff guys. Awesome deep dive.
GREAT episode, guys! I think I might have to hunt down that issue of Marvel Age.
It's interesting that Jim Starlin's Dreadstar is on the cover of that issue of Marvel Age. I can remember reading Dreadstar and I believe it was one of the comics where they started using better, whiter paper and I remember the yellows especially being really, really garish.(I hated it.)
Marvel Fanfare was a great example of a comic with bright colours that popped. I didn't understand when I was a kid why they didn't print all their titles on that kind of paper.
Love the channel guys! I’ve been devouring your entire catalogue. Any chance you can cover the continued collaboration between Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely? They are one of the most dynamic teams in modern superhero books IMO. Love to see your take on Quitley in general, as he’s matured into an artist that does much of his own inking and painting, while always evolving his pencils in specific ways that fit each projects tone.
Be here Sunday. 😁
That old crappy paper looks so good. That's why digital copies of old comics look like trash. The colors are way too bright. Does anyone know what actual stock of newsprint paper Marvel and DC used to use?
Like a big NY Strip on the scale...!! I thought the reason I can't dig digital is because my comics were on newsprint. Now we know the real reason. The color separation.
And yes, I did just go on ebay and buy this issue. WHAT OF IT?!
You beat me to it, but I'm right there with you!
What an interesting video. Thank you for all that very well presented information.
A request: Can we please get a video covering Fraction and Aja's run on Hawkeye? (But I'd settle for anything about Aja's artwork...) Regardless, thanks for your excellent videos - this must be the most competent and inspiring yt-channel on comics! Thanks guys!
Amazing work guys ! Please keep it up
Youre my daily dose of comic making inspiration
Thank you !
I can outline draw like a pro. I'm weak in coloring and have to master that fast!
Obsessed with color!
Waiting for comics to be colored like this again. Everything eventually makes a come back...!!
Best episode yet
Awesome vids guys thanks
Would love to see you guys cover Ronin
Traditional comics coloring has always been this vague, esoteric process in my head. It was cool to get, like, an actual explanation.
This is an awesome video guys \m/
Great video. I wonder if it is within your powers to get Pete Poplaski on the channel and talk to him about the coloring on the early Kitchen Sink reprints of The Spirit. Those book were (I believe) on Baxter Paper and the coloring is some of my favorite of all time. Even his coloring on the covers, though not related to Baxter Paper stuff, would be worth a deep dive as the vibrancy and color choice is unique, issue #2 being a great example. He also did the Megaton Man covers.
this channel is quite an education!
good stuff!
Finally
Does the article address paper yellowing? Has anyone picked a new palette to compensate for that?
Well, now I want to read a Voltron comic by Claremont/Byrne/Austin/Wein/Orzechowski....
The word of the day is: pop
Said it before.... Fucking great channel... keep it up
Straignt up never liked the look of books on "Baxter Paper".
Now we know why. The coloring schemes need to be adjusted.
Better drum intro than PornHub.