Rodolphe Töpffer (1799-1846), often named the father of comics advocated self-publishing with the help of autography in his reflections over his– literature en estampes. (Töpffer 1845). Autography (or transfer-lithography, which is the more accurate technical term) is a planographic printing technique that allows the artist to produce a matrix without having to mirror the text (Senefelder 1818). By using this technique, Töpffer revolutionized visual storytelling and the method he used; pen and ink on paper, is still regarded as industry standard (McCloud 2006, Abel and Madden 2008). Even though the research on Töpffer is extensive, little interest have been directed towards the methods and materiality of autography – a lacuna my experimental research will fill.In recent years risography, an accessible and relatively cheap printing technique has emerged and become popular among artists (Haylock 2011). Risography is a duplication-technique, originating from Japan that combines digital pre-production with analog print. It is environmentally friendly and give artists freedom to experiment with publications in low print-runs. The analog hand-made appearance of risographic print appeals to artists within alternative comics, self-publishing and makers of artist-books and fanzines. As with autography, there is a dearth of research on risography.In this paper I will present, compare, and discuss my own experiences of experimenting with autography, as I understand Töpffers use of the technique, and compare them with similar experiments I have conducted with risography. What especially interests me is the narrative characteristics of the inked black line in relation to the different printing techniques and the production of auratic objects in the Benjaminan sense. 

Keywords: Töppfer, autography, litography, risography, ink, inking, aura, fanzines, artist books, Benjamin.

References:Abel, Jessica & Madden, Matt. (2008). Drawing words & writing pictures: making comics : manga, graphic novels, and beyond. 1st ed. New York: First Second

Benjamin, Walter (2008). The work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. London: Penguin

Haylock, B. (2011). Beyond D.I.Y.: On Risography and Publishing-as-Practice. International Journal of the Book, 8(4), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.18848/1447-9516/CGP/v08i04/36903

 McCloud, Scott (2006). Making comics: storytelling secrets of comics, manga and graphic novels. 1st ed. New York: Harper

 Senefelder, Alois (1818). Vollständiges Lehrbuch der Steindruckerey enthaltend eine richtige und deutliche Anweisung zu den verschiedenen Manipulations-Arten derselben in allen ihren Zweigen und Manieren, belegt mit den nöthigen Musterblättern, nebst einer vorangehenden ausführlichen Geschichte dieser Kunst .... München:

Töpffer, Rodolphe: Notice sur les Essais d’autographie (1842). Courriere de Genève 1842-07-02, in Töpffer, Rodolphe, 1799-1846. - L' invention de la bande dessinée / Töpffer ; textes réunis et présentés par Thierry Groensteen et Benoît Peeters. - 1994.