Tracing Paper

Recently I have rediscovered my love for tracing paper. For me it's less about the tracing aspect that attracts me and more the loose feel of it. Since it usually comes in either a roll or tear away binding the drawings I keep are loosely kept in a pile or folder. Contrast this to a sketchbook where the pages are bound together. If there are too many pages ripped out it will look odd. This causes me to be rather hesitant to experimenting in any sketchbook I have so I often sketch on loose sheets of paper. Then I feel like it's a loss when I create something cool I wish was in my sketchbook. Now, I'm not entirely sure why with trace I feel it's okay for them to be loose in a pile or folder and not with normal drawing paper. I'm weird.

The ability to trace and have 'layers' like photoshop is a nice use as well. When making character designs I'll have generic outlines of a human form underneath which allows me to focus more on clothing and style and less on anatomy. Using different sheets as layers I can do quick color samples too without risking damaging the linework. These are far from finished colors, but it's a quick way to see coloring without messing with the original sketch. Once again, really fast and easy product to work on.

One con of it is it's ability to absorb inks. Other than a permanent ink like a sharpie it's gonna smear if you're not careful. I don't mind using a sharpie, but it's far from the ideal drawing pen. It takes pencil just fine, but I prefer to sketch in pen. Unless I'm doing a finish drawing, then I sketch it out in pencil first. It's a pain to erase pencil on it so might as well use pen anyway.

Though the unlimited canvas of a roll of trace is good for experimenting I must be careful not to make an unhealthy habit of idle doodling. Doodling can be useful or even fun at times, but I don't want to weaken the ability to draw with intent and technique. Since I'm still working out my style of art I don't want to become too comfortable on any one medium or technique just yet. Tracing paper can be a useful tool if you know how to use it.