We ask you to put on the hat you wear when considering new things, and follow us as we explore the fascinating possibilties of

Tracing is very big in the worlds of commercial design and animation - although much of it is now done on computers. It is the way a finished design is developed. You draw something, then trace over it, adding new parts and leaving out what you don't want, moving things around into more pleasing positions, etc. Sometimes a whole pad of tracing paper could be used up in one go-around. But that was ok because tracing paper was cheap and disposable stuff. If you've ever had a chance encounter with a fifteen year old pad of tracing paper, you know the meaning of “non-archival”!

And that was the downside. When you finished your composition, it was on a sheet of paper that wouldn't accept any media and wouldn't last til lunch. So everything had to be transferred to a surface suitable for finishing the art - which you could never see through - and you had to resort to those messy graphite papers, icky carbon, or worst of all for the pristine appearance of the finished piece, scribbling all over the back of the tracing with #2 pencil. There were a few transparent materials out there, like water-media acetate which was used for animation, but the results were “working art”, not something you could display or consider “finished”.

I've been tracing throughout my career - mostly reworking my own stuff, but often using purchased clip-art and making the changes that had to be made. I used it in my painting as well as commercial design because it was the easiest way to develop the final composition. On occasion, when I would just dive in and start painting, I would make a tracing of the finished piece later so I could re-use the elements in a future work. Little did I know what a terrific “kick in the shorts” this procedure was going to get when Sheer Heaven happened!

With the advent of Sheer Heaven, my use of tracing as an art tool became a whole new ballgame. Now, when I finish tracing a composition, it is already on a beautiful, archival “canvas” all ready for any media I care to use to paint it, color it, dye it, etc. It can then be mounted, matted, or framed over a white stock and be “lit” with the reflection of light from behind (a la Maxfield Parrish). Sometimes, I just sandwich it between two pieces of glass in a frame to get a wonderful look that I've never seen with any other material. Or, a small piece can simply be mounted on the front of a card (Xyron adhesive is best).

The newer acid-free vellums are also useful for the tracing technique, although you will be limited in the media you can use for adding your color. Many choices, like colored pencils, pastels, pigment inks, dyes, water colors etc. may not be suitable for vellum.

You won’t want to blow through a whole lot of Sheer Heaven, however, because it is not “cheap and disposable” (even for me), so I do suggest using vellums or pads of inexpensive tracing paper to compose, and using Sheer Heaven or a good vellum to do the final tracing.

So, what to trace?
The sky’s the limit as long as you own the “right” to copy, so let’s explore the possibilities. The next couple pages will take you on an adventure of possibility, and most probably, cause a lot of “lightbulb” activity in your idea bank. Let those bulbs pop. Write the ideas down if you think you won’t remember them all. Most of all, try this out. No matter what your area of interest, I think it will take you to new and wonderful places.

We cannot stress enough that you must own or have been given the right to copy someone else’s art. No two ways about it. So, here’s a primer on what’s ok and what isn’t:

OK:
Images you have hand stamped from stamps you have purchased or been given. Tracing by hand is part of the “hand drawn process” and should be OK with all companies as long as the piece is for personal use (any company wishing to be excluded from this statement, please advise and we will publish that information). Angel companies would then allow you to sell your finished art for profit. Angel 100 companies would allow you also to make copies (up to 100) electronically or mechanically of that artwork for sale/profit.

Images you have purchased as “Clip Art” - such as from Dover Publishing or online Clip Art sites such as clipart.com. The seller may have specific rules for usage. For example, Dover usually says up to ten images may be used in one artwork.

Images in the “public domain” which means it is very old and the copyright has expired (70 years in most cases) or art that has been “offered” into the public domain, meaning the artist has freely given permission for use by everyone without compensation.

Patterns (i.e. stained glass etc.) that are given free online for the purposes of personal use. Just because you are going to use it for a “faux” stained glass artwork, doesn't exclude you from the gift. These images will be accompanied by copyright information telling you whether you may sell your finished artwork or not.

Images you have purchased on Tracers™ sheets for the express purpose of tracing (duh!. . . but we want to be complete here). You will find out what Tracers are two pages from now.

Not OK:

We could just say “everything else” but we would like to add a few specifics.

Tracing from a “catalog” is not ok - even a catalog you have purchased. In that purchase, you have not purchased any rights of reproduction.

Magazine and book images are not ok, with the exception of patterns specifically included for your use in the production of your art or craft.

Images from anybody’s website unless specific permission is stated on that website or you have received permission from the owner.

“Comp” images featured on clip art sites are meant solely for the purpose of “proofing” so you will know whether the image is useful before purchasing. Tracing them is not ok.

Questions??

If you have a question about copyright (as applied to tracing) that is not addressed here, please ask us - we will try to give you the right answer.