What would make tracing paper stronger but still translucent?

[MyOrangeHat]

So I wanted to do a rather large drawing with ink on tracing paper stretched(or just stapled I guess) onto canvas stretcher bars. But I'm afraid that the tracing paper will be too prone to damage. It's high quality tracing paper so I wouldn't be worried except that I'm looking to do it rather large.
Is there any type of shelack or sealant or something I can put on the tracing paper after I'm done the drawing to strengthen it up and to make it less prone to just getting a hole punched through it if something touches it? But I don't want to kill the translucency because the whole point of using tracing paper is to have the light come through a bit.

[Stoat]

I saw a really great fake stained glass window done with tracing paper and markers once, but it was definitely a temporary installation.

I think the stuff is inherently pretty brittle. I suppose a coat of clear lacquer might help a little, but I don't think anything's going to make it durable.

[Ilaekae]

Standard tracing paper is much too brittle and too prone to rapid aging to hold up, no matter what you do. I might recommend checking out an engineering supply firm that sells drafting supplies. There are transparent and translucent (frosted) mylar sheets made for ink drawing, and there are high-grade papers in large sizes on a roll or in sheets that are roughly about as translucent as tracing paper that are much much stronger. Their still used by architectural firms for blueprint drawing and such, but may be hard to find due to computers taking over a lot of that type of thing now.

Do a careful google for Drafting or Engineering supplies or drafting paper. If you get creative with google's "clues," you might get lucky...


ADD: I once did some stretched "paper" paintings on various Japanese papers that are fairly translucent that held up fine, but all of them were destroyed sooner or later with punctures. A second thought from my old agency days--there are translucent papers used in printing that are very stiff, often heavy, and still very translucent as tracing paper. I don't remember the names of any one specific brand, but they're used as wrap-around covers or internal first pages on expensive books and as inserts in expensive wedding invitations and such. They ARE commercial products so you'll have to buy at least a full carton from a commercial paper house, but you can get the sheets in incredible sizes (25" x 38" and sometimes larger). I used to have some that was so "hard" and thick that it could slit someone's throat if you swung it right...:P ...and it was still see-through. It had a tendency to crack like glass rather than tear.

[Stoat]

Mylar drafting film! I didn't think of that! That stuff is hella expensive, though.

We threw out a bunch of it when our office went digital. I kept my pounce, though. I don't know what I'm going to pounce with it, but I'll find something.

[kev ferrara]

I agree with Illy. Go to an art store and just ask for translucent paper sheets. You'll get anything from vellum to acetate and if you want something even tougher you can buy plexiglass or something. Be mindful of what inks you use on the surface though. Some ink will just bead up, and some ink is made specially for inking on film. You might learn a lot about what kind of paint/ink to use on translucent materials by going here: http://www.vintageip.com/

They talk about everything from opaque watercolor and casein to acrylic. At the end of the day, you will just have to test out the materials on your chosen surface yourself to see what works for you.

kev

[Grief]

got access to a projector?

[MyOrangeHat]

Ooh Mylar drafting film sounds perfect! I think my mission for tomorrow will be to see if I can find some. I'll also head to the local art store and see what they have by way of sheets of translucent paper. Thanks for the help, everyone. This project is going to be fun. I love new materials. :)

Ilaekae: The stiff printing paper sounds perfect. Not sure if I'm willing to commit to the expense of a box full yet. But if I get on a kick with this I'd love to invest in some and play with it. Thank you for the suggestion. That is nothing I would have tripped over in a search in a art supply store to be sure. :D Do you have any idea what exactly it's called or where I could find a supplier?

Grief: Yes I have access to a projector at school. I've never used it before though. What do you have in mind?

[Elwell]

I'd recommend denril (http://www.bordenandriley.com/website/vellumbondlaserfilm.html) (polypropylene vellum). Pricey though

[MyOrangeHat]

Thanks, Elwell. Is Denril difficult to find? I don't think I"ve ever seen it before, but then I was never looking for it before.
If it's hard to find, is there anywhere near SVA you know of that carries it?

[Grief]

ehhh i was thinking of using a slightly more durable paper and using a light projection system as almost an installation.. but its vastly not what you asked about, and is an unwieldy solution (but would be rad nonetheless)

creating a makeshift light-box to back-light your image would allow you to use more opaque and sturdy paper.

another solution would be to use vellum and adhere it to clear acetate with dry mount tissue. the result would still allow light to pass through while being archival safe, but again not too practical.

[Elwell]

Thanks, Elwell. Is Denril difficult to find? I don't think I"ve ever seen it before, but then I was never looking for it before.
If it's hard to find, is there anywhere near SVA you know of that carries it?

It's Borden & Reilly, so it's not too hard to find. I don't know about DaVinci because their selection is so limited, but Pearl, Utrecht, or New York Central should all carry it.

[dbclemons]

Although Denril is supposed to be available in rolls, all I've ever found are pads of 25 sheets up to 19 x 24" and is usually much cheaper than polyester of the same size and thickness.

Polyester film is available in larger and thicker sizes and rolls are easy to find. Grafix makes a good drafting film or Azon Herculene but they're all about the same. I also recommend Grafix Double-Tack adhesive sheets for gluing it down.

[MyOrangeHat]

Grief: The idea of using thicker paper and backlighting actually did cross my mind too early on. It just seemed too cumbersome. I'm not huge on installation pieces...or maybe I'm just lazy. lol But thank you for the suggestion, I appreciate that you actually thought about what might work better than what I was thinking of. :)

I shopped for drafting film and denril today. I could only find drafting film in huuuge expensive rolls. I didn't need that much and couldn't afford to shell out that much money. The denril, while expensive too, was available in a much smaller roll so that's what I got. Plus I fell in loooooove with the smooth surface of the sample they had pinned up. I'm a sucker for a polished smooth surface. Can't wait to use this stuff tonight. Thanks for all the help, everyone! I'll post what I'm drawing on this if it doesn't turn out too badly. :)

They did have denril at DaVinci btw, Elwell. Just in case you were wondering.

[Ilaekae]

MyOrangeHat, I've destroyed most of my commercial paper samples because they're out of date, but I'll make a few calls and see what I can find out for you. I still have some industry friends alive somewhere...I hope... :P

[MyOrangeHat]

Ilaekae: If you could find a live, or cooperative zombie/ghost, industry friend that knows where I could find that paper I'd be really grateful. Thank you! :D

[MyOrangeHat]

Aaaand this is what I did with the stuff. Sadly my camera isn't very fond of photographing the translucent layer properly so I'll attach a picture of the sketch before it was transfered to the translucent paper. In person the figure isn't blurry through the denril.

Ideally this is supposed to be displayed backlit, but my camera wouldn't take a picture of it that way without completely spazzing out so I just used room light here. When it's back lit like its supposed to be, the areas of the room that look the lightest are actually the darkest since they're the most opaque. The ONLY thing on here other than the photocopy of the drawing is white paint. And when there is no direct light it's hard to tell that there's anything on the page other than the figure.

I really enjoyed working with this denril stuff. I'm definitely going to play with it some more!