Ever notice how cool certain jazz album covers are from the 1950s and 60s? Miles Davis, John
Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Charles Mingus-- their record covers have taken on an iconic place in
pop culture. Part of the reason they look so great is because they are using duotone, a style that
has been making a comeback in recent years across the board in photography.
What is duotone? It’s the generic name for printing in multitone, using two, three, or four inks.
Special inks are used instead of standard CMYK ones in order to process the colors properly.
Usually a darker base color is used, followed by a lighter color that is printed over it to fill in and
give a specific tone to the photo or illustration.
Many PicsArtists are making the
most of duotone and using it in
various creative, eye-catching
ways. It seems like a trend that’s
here to stay.
@sasalove96
Dutone is now being used in everything from fashion shoots to wedding photography. It is used
in band posters, advertising, and in movies. Part of the reason for its appeal is the modern, sleek
atmosphere that it creates. It gives
a sense of cool detachment and
a cutting edge vibe. The dutone
itself becomes part of the subject
of the photo or graphic, so the
whole image becomes more
interesting and unique.
PicsArt Monthly |71