Tracing paper is paper made to have low opacity, allowing light to pass through. Its origins date back to at least the 1300s where it was used by artists of the Italian Renaissance.[1] In the 1880s, tracing paper was produced en masse, used by architects, design engineers, and artists.[2] Tracing paper was key in creating drawings that could be copied precisely using the diazo copy process.[2] It then found many other uses. The original use for drawing and tracing was largely superseded by technologies that do not require diazo copying or manual copying (by tracing) of drawings.
The transparency of tracing paper is achieved by careful selection of the raw materials and the process used to create transparency. Cellulose fibre forms the basis of the paper, usually from wood species but also from cotton fibre. Often, paper contains other filler materials to enhance opacity and print quality. For tracing or translucent paper, it is necessary to remove any material which obstructs the transmission of light.[3]
- ^ d'Andrea Cennini, Cennino (June 1, 1954). The Craftsman's Handbook "Il Libro dell' Arte" (2nd ed.). Dover Publications.
- ^ a b Olcott Price, Lois (1995). "The History and Identification of Photo-Reproductive Processes Used for Architectural Drawings Prior to 1930" (PDF). Topics in Photographic Preservation. 6: 41–42.
- ^ How is paper made translucent (grease proof, tracing paper)? PaperOnWeb