Glenn Fleishman (independant comics and printing historian) on 'How Comics Were Made: Dawn of the Dots'
American newspapers found success in adding colour to relief printed cartoons started in 1893. The patented Ben Day process was used, preceding its application to letterpress by decades and lasting until at least the 1950s. The craft behind Ben Day required intricate painting, masking, inking, and adjustments across typically four zinc plates, representing each of the standard newspaper printing colours of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Glenn Fleishman walks participants through the process guided by a heavily illustrated chapter of his book on newspaper comic production and reproduction.
Organizer: Elizabeth Savage