Benday

/ˈbɛndeɪ/ noun

Definition

A printing technique that creates tonal shades and textures using patterns of dots or lines, commonly used in comic books and commercial art.

Etymology

Named after Benjamin Day, an American printer who invented the technique in 1879. The eponym reflects 19th-century innovation in mechanical printing.

Kelly Says

Before digital color, comic book artists used Ben Day dots to create the illusion of thousands of colors—if you look at vintage Superman comics with a magnifying glass, you'll see the mathematical genius of this optical trick!

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