Why is manga typically created with screentones rather than grayscale fills?


I was recently introduced to the screen-tone process. [Here's a short video
for reference.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK1qRP_E7Is) Why was this, and
why is this still the prominent technique for coloring manga? What advantages
do screen-tones have over grayscale fills?  


* * *

To clarify, a fill is when an artist uses a solid color to completely color
one area (with marker, paint, pencil, etc...).




These are called [Ben-Day dots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Day_dots).
Depending on the size and spacing of the dots, you can create different shades
using a single colour - or, with a limited colour palette you can produce
different shades not available to you.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFGIe.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFGIe.jpg)

This is often used to **save on printing costs** , as you can get a wide range
of shades/colours with a smaller usage of ink and no need for different levels
of pressure.

Because manga is often a [disposable medium](http://www.japanator.com/do-
manga-magazines-have-to-be-disposable--13724.phtml), keeping costs low is
often a priority for magazines and such to pull a profit - without increasing
the prices for consumers.

You may see this in other non-manga print mediums as well - like free/low-cost
newspapers: [![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rpbIR.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rpbIR.jpg)

It has become associated with comics both East and West - so often shows will
use it for artistic purposes as well.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PljHM.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PljHM.jpg)

Other screentones exists, like speed markings, _shoujo sparkles_ and such -
and simply, they are used because it is both easier and faster to get your
desired effect.

As well as providing particular aesthetics, it ensures a colour is solidly
evenly shaded, whereas when colouring manually it is easy to have uneven
shades by angling or pressuring differently across an image.




These are called [Ben-Day dots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben-Day_dots).
Depending on the size and spacing of the dots, you can create different shades
using a single colour - or, with a limited colour palette you can produce
different shades not available to you.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFGIe.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/mFGIe.jpg)

This is often used to **save on printing costs** , as you can get a wide range
of shades/colours with a smaller usage of ink and no need for different levels
of pressure.

Because manga is often a [disposable medium](http://www.japanator.com/do-
manga-magazines-have-to-be-disposable--13724.phtml), keeping costs low is
often a priority for magazines and such to pull a profit - without increasing
the prices for consumers.

You may see this in other non-manga print mediums as well - like free/low-cost
newspapers: [![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rpbIR.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rpbIR.jpg)

It has become associated with comics both East and West - so often shows will
use it for artistic purposes as well.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PljHM.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PljHM.jpg)

Other screentones exists, like speed markings, _shoujo sparkles_ and such -
and simply, they are used because it is both easier and faster to get your
desired effect.

As well as providing particular aesthetics, it ensures a colour is solidly
evenly shaded, whereas when colouring manually it is easy to have uneven
shades by angling or pressuring differently across an image.

