With the rise of social media, most people have stopped paying attention to newspaper and magazine articles. Instead, they scroll through their feeds on mobile devices, reading short snippets about things that interest them.
However, this has actually helped newspapers and magazines profit due to the increased exposure they get. People share their articles on social media, which garners more views and reads.
With the decrease in readers due to social media, newspapers and magazines have had to find ways to stand out. One way they have done this is by using “dot-drawings” instead of actual photos.
These “dot-drawings” are actually called vignettes, and they are an art form used by newspapers and magazines. They use different colors of ink to create the effect of a drawing or photo on paper.
There are many artists that specialize in creating these vignettes for newspapers and magazines across the world.
How are dot-drawings made?
Dot-drawings are made by using a pen or pencil to make very small dots on a piece of paper. The number of dots used to create an image depends on the size of the dot and the scale of the image being drawn.
Dot-drawings can be made in two ways: One is where the artist first sketches out the image using a pen or pencil, then fills in the lines with tiny dots, and then adds color. The second way is to first fill in the image with tiny dots, then add some light colors to shade, and then add details such as outlines or texture.
As easy as it is to make a dot-drawing, there are many artists that use this style as their main form of art. Many artist rotate their art style out every few years to keep it fresh and interesting for themselves and their audience.
Benefits of using dot-drawings
The idea of using dot-drawings instead of photographs in newspaper features is not a new one. Many newspapers have been using this style for their features for some time now.
Some papers even have a staff member who specializes in creating these unique portraits using just dots. Staff members take several hours to create one of these portraits, and they are definitely a work of art.
The use of dot-drawings instead of photographs is something that has been embraced by the news industry as it is cost-effective and time-effective.
Using these drawings takes less time to create than photographing someone or something and then editing the photo, and they look just as good if not better!
These drawers are also given freedom to be creative and artistic with their work, which many enjoy doing.
Downsides of using dot-drawings
While dot-drawings can be a fun and creative way to showcase your pet, they are not for everyone. Some people are not fans of them, and some pets may not like being portrayed by dots.
Some pets may feel embarrassed by how simple they look in a dot-drawing. For example, if you drew a lion in a dot-drawing, it would look silly because it would look like a cat with little circles for paws and a big circle for the head.
Although most people know that it is just the pet’s face being portrayed in little circles, some may think that it is just a picture of a generic animal. This could bring down the recognition of your pet.
Also, since most printers do not have the capability to print dot-drawings, these pictures cannot be printed unless you manually change them to photos. These then run the risk of being deleted or lost due to computer issues.
Different perspectives on dot-drawings
As photographers continue to push the boundaries of the medium, journalists and news organizations must look for new ways to showcase their stories.
Many newspapers feature photographs rather than drawings or sketches as feature pieces. This can be due to cost, time constraints, and difficulty in finding artists to draw compelling pieces for the paper.
Some newspapers have started using pixelated photographs instead of actual photos due to time constraint and cost. Pixelated photos take less time and money to produce than real photographs which can make them more feasible for the newspaper to use.
Both can be very striking when used appropriately which shows how important art can be in journalism. Art can help convey certain messages or stories better than just words on a page.
Who is responsible for the design of the portraits?
The Dot-Drawing Portrait Studio is an online portrait studio that creates “dot-drawing” portraits instead of traditional photos. Anyone can use this studio to create their own dot-drawing portrait!
The portraits are created by a computer algorithm that uses an image of a person as a reference and then draws black dots on a white background. The size and distribution of the dots determine the likeness of the person in the portrait.
The effect is reminiscent of primitive cave paintings, and the finished product looks like a drawing on paper instead of a photo. The simplicity of the effect makes it easy to add other elements, like making the portrait appear as if it is painted on canvas.
The ability to add additional elements to the portrait makes this feature very versatile for professionals looking to promote their work. Anyone can use this studio for free, but they can pay someone else to take their portrait photo off of the canvas effect.
What equipment is used to create the portraits?
To create these portraits, artists use pens, pencils, and/or markers to draw on large sheets of paper. The canvas size depends on the newspaper size, with some using as large as four feet by five feet!
Some artists prefer to work with just pen or pencil while others mix both media. It is up to the artist which tools they like to use.
Many of these artists are trained in art so they have a background in different mediums such as sculpture, painting, and/or drawing. Some even study marketing or advertising so they are well-trained in what looks good and accurate.
The dots that make up the faces are sometimes painted in or filled in with some type of color. This depends on the artist and what looks best for the portrait.
Do all images contain people?
Not always! There are many images that are people-less, and these are becoming more common as technology advances. Technological advancements allow for more creative freedom when creating images, which is why we are starting to see less and less use of people in images.
Many influencers use totally shotselfies or use apps like Facetune to add in elements like beautiful filters or edited faces. Even brands use simple products or logos instead of people to create awareness.
Some of the best ways to use non-people images is to mix them in with photos or footage.
Are there any other examples of this technique used elsewhere?
Apart from the newspaper industry, the “dot-drawing” technique is not very common. However, there are some very famous portrait artists who use this method to create their art.
Many portrait artists start with a blank canvas and then use oils or acrylics to create the portrait. Some start with a photo and then add additional details in color. Both of these use the same concept of starting with nothing but a blank canvas or adding extra details to make a portrait.
Some famous oil and acrylic portrait artists include Leon Kosoff, Adelle Renois de France, and Yeoryios Nengeos who all have distinct styles that can be recognized. All of them start with a blank canvas and add details to create the portraits.
Some well-known photographers also take portraits in this style using only photos as their source material. This can help boost the portraiture photographer’s profile as they must already have high quality photos to draw from.
