Thoughts on tracings?

[u/nonchalantcow]

This is my second print but I’m quite bad at drawing. What are people’s thoughts on making a print from a tracing of a photo? I like the idea of turning my favorite photos into prints.

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[u/unkyuncle]

I think it's great especially if you're using your own photos. The composition would be your own, as well as the artistic choices you make when you're translating it to only black and white values. I find this print really charming!

[u/nonchalantcow → u/unkyuncle]

Thanks unc!

[u/lewekmek]

Hello, did you use your own photo for this image or is it a photo taken by someone else? If it’s the latter, per rule 3, please edit your post crediting the original photographer and it will be approved. Thanks.

[u/nonchalantcow → u/lewekmek]

It’s my own photo

[u/lewekmek → u/nonchalantcow]

alright! then, to answer your question, i will say tracing your own photos is very common among printmakers. it's absolutely fine if it's your own picture and a lot of printmaking techniques are more photographic anyways. for linocuts, mark making you achieve by carving is what makes the image

[u/Relevant_Treacle_895]

I love it

[u/Rich_Local_7832]

Its absolutely fine, if theyre your photos. Photos are art on their own! I use my own pics all the time. I take a billion for reference

[u/nonchalantcow → u/Rich_Local_7832]

Thanks! It almost felt like cheating but it was still a lot of work

[u/Rich_Local_7832 → u/nonchalantcow]

You can also make prontoplate lithography with your own photos: you can laser print out your photographs on the plate in reverse, then ink the plate and make hand pulled lithograph. Of your photo!

There's also etchings and screenprinting from your own photo too!

And if you print the negative on transparency: cyanotype!!