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TimTownsend — Dark Phoenix
Published: 2008-08-02 20:10:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 12709; Favourites: 266; Downloads: 92
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Description
This is the splash page from an issue of Uncanny X-Men by Salvador Larocca and myself. Salva's pencils were always pretty open and loose and left a lot of room for interpretation. I had a lot of fun with this one. I chose to add the zip-a-tone at the last second which I really think makes the page.Related content
Comments: 51
Pretty much, yes. A lot of the newer screen tones are being done digitally. I prefer the old school methods. I like a cool looking original.
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i think it looks nicer on the original, ive only seen it a few times but its pretty cool
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This is probably my absolute favorite Phoenix piece by anyone ever. Salvador is my favorite artist, and you are by far my favorite inker...and this piece is just the bees knees. I never noticed the tone, so I broke out the issue, and sure enough. Genius! Simply genius! So genius, in fact, that if it is alright with you, I will bust out some fresh colors for this piece.
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Thank you! By all means, have at it.
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I loved that cover... As always, very clean and powerful. I wish you'd have posted the pencils with it, so we could see the extent of your work here! But I guess you might not be allowed to...
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Awesome page. I work at an art store in Raleigh, NC, and we actually carry those sheets from a company called Maxon. I never got a chance to use them though. Let me know if anyone needs some. We do ship.
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You mean the Dark Phoenix came back to life in Uncanny X-men?!
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Definitely you did a great job adding that Zip! Oh well, not that I need to tell you, hey! XD
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ah! zip-a-tone is the technical term for the dotsy thingy. cool. i like the old school feel it gives it.
Do you make the zip-a-tone by computer?
So cool that Larocca is open on his work.
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I LOVE the zip a tone.... love it.... this is beautiful=]
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a larroca/townsend, what could be better? ^^
simply outstanding
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That is a masterful piece of finished work there, sir.
Granted, I'd like to see the original lines for comparison, but I've come across a few Salvador Larocca penciled sheets over the last few years, so I guess I can sort of guestimate what they looked like.
Regardless, THIS is beautiful.
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This is very beautiful Tim. I love the zip-a-tone look. I'd be curious to find out how one would color it. Cell shading or the more "glossy" shaded style.
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Is been a while since i saw a zip.. it looks kinda retro!!!
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Nice! ~ I remember when you had to add zip w/ the sheets of the stuff. Now, everyone uses the pooter...
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Thanks, Karl! Good to hear from you.
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I've been checking out all your posts. Beautiful stuff as always man.
k
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Wow I did not even know they still made zip. LOL Nice job.
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Nice work on this - really admire the zip work, too.
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Very nice. I always figured zip went out of style because of the advances in coloring. That's more a theory than fact of course. It's still a great technique and adds a nice richness to the art. You really put some time into the zip here and it looks great!
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Technically speaking, these days, you can just buy the blank sheets and print your own Zip. Im too lazy of course.
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Hehe...No one could ink the way you do and be lazy.
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Its a selective laziness.
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Fantastic this remeber me John Master Byrne covers ^^
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Salva! My favourite penciler.
The zip-a-tone effect is interesting. Looks rather good in black & white. Thanks for posting, I love this page.
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Wow 
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Thanks. Chris Bachalo and I use it all the time but he adds it digitally. Zip is impossible to find these days. If I had more of it Id use it every chance I had.
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well that's great to hear you guys use screentones at all! I haven't ever seen Zip around at all, may be it's overall availability! also haven't seen anything from letraset in forever 
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Zip-a-tone is great and hard to use properly. Nice inking job.
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Sweeetness, the zip looks great, too bad more artist aren't using it like in the 80's...if used correctly it can be a wonderful tool and I must say it was used to perfection on this piece...
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Thanks! Yeah, I really wish it would make a come-back. The Japanese still use it like crazy...er...clazy!
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Always Nice and I agree the tone was a good call, not something I see to much these days but I think it really helps make the piece, kinda gives it an old school look!
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very nice. I really do like the use of the zip-a-tone
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How does that zip-a-tone work? Do you have any reference sites one that at all?
Fantastic work!
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Zip-a-tone is a lost art. Artists were using it on a regular basis all the way throught the early 90's. It suddenly became impossible to find in the U.S. These days this look is usually achieved by adding a Photoshop texture after the work is scanned. I prefer the old fashion method. I like the original piece of art to be the true finished product. Its just a printed texture on a sticker sheet. You cut it in the shape you need and just past it down on the art. Thanks!
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It adds a lot to the piece. Thanks for the info! I'm gonna try it out. I completely agree with the art being the completed product, and it's cool to learn these forgotten techniques.
Thanks again.
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Agreed, I really like the added tone. 
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This is a tough one for me. I'm not crazy about the zip-a-tone necessarily but I'm not sure how else you would achieve what you were after.
Otherwise, nice and clean as always!
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