20/1/20 - FOILING
I really like the idea of having my pages foiled, so I decided to look into the different ways in which I could do this. I watched a couple of YouTube tutorials, and I think that the best and most cost-effective way would be to use a heat press, as there is one at the King’s Cross print studio.
20/1/20 - FOILING
20/1/20 - FOILING
19/1/20 - PAPER TYPES
For deciding what kind of paper to use, I looked into what paper works best for storybook style publications.
“Most printed books, use uncoated paper stocks for the inside pages of the book, and a coated cover stock for the book cover. Uncoated stocks come in different finishes and paperweights. Uncoated paper comes in two different finishes, either vellum or smooth finish.” https://www.diggypod.com/book-printing/paper-types/
50# white offset is typically used for books that only have type and no photos in the copy.
60# white or natural (cream-antique looking colour) offset is best for type and photos.
70# white offset is best used when you want a little thicker paper and have solid ink coverage to help with the bleed through.
80# gloss text is best used when you want your photos to look sharp and pop on the page.
The best research however for my material was going and actually feeling the paper, out of the samples at the King’s Cross print studio, the 220 GSM matte plain paper felt the most high quality and luxurious, without being ridiculously expensive, which fit the context of my publication nicely.
18/1/20 - BOOK BINDING
18/1/20 - BOOK BINDING
I looked into the various bookbinding methods to decided which one I would like to do and which was most suitable for my publication. I used this source for my bookbinding information: http://blog.ironmarkusa.com/4-types-book-binding
Case binding:
PROS
Casebound books are an impressive presentation. They give your book a weighty feel and inspire an air of quality.
Books bound in this manner are highly durable and attract high retail prices.
CONS
Cost is the biggest drawback to the technique. The net cost of case binding can be several times the cost of perfect binding.
Weight can be an issue.
Perfect binding:
PROS
It’s an economical alternative to hardcover binding, both in terms of production and shipping.
Presentation is still of high quality, allowing the books to fetch good prices at sale.
CONS
Books don’t lay flat on table when opened due to glueing of cover to the spine of the book block.
The inferior paper-based cover also means that perfect bound books are less durable than hardcover books.
Saddle-stitch binding:
PROS
This technique is highly economical, especially for small, short-term booklets.
Saddle-stitched books lay flat (for the most part) when opened.
This binding method usually has a fairly quick turnaround, and can be done at most commercial printers in house.
CONS
When used for books with many pages, the nesting of pages within one another can cause creeping.
Books are less durable; the cover and pages can be easily damaged.
I quite like the idea of having a hardback case for my book, so I watch a couple of youtube tutorials and came across this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av_rU-yOPd4
This technique is really great because I can print my cover and then inside pieces of mountboard to give it a firm and secure feel.
15/1/20 – Illustrations
I am really inspired by these vintage Dior lipstick ads that I saw scrolling through Twitter. The colour palette, illustration style and the black lines partnered with the cursive lettering the ornate border really reminded me of Fredrick Fox’s story. These images are exactly the tone that I am trying to achieve in my book design.
16/1/20 – Laduree
I really like the idea of accenting my design with some sort of border that fits the tone of the story and the time period. I decided to look at the packaging design of the patisserie brand Laduree, as they have an impressive array of illustrated borders in their designs. I looked at the general lines and patterns and translate my version into the cover and back page of the book.
14/1/20 - Camp Notes on Fashion
“Bound in a pale pink casing, the catalogue comprises two mint green volumes that walk the reader through the history and modern applications of camp in all its feathered and frilled glory. […] The second volume, bound vertically like a legal pad with fold-out imagery, is anchored by an essay by the museum’s Wendy Yu curator in charge of the Costume Institute, Andrew Bolton.” https://www.vogue.com/article/the-metropolitan-museum-of-art-camp-notes-on-fashion-catalogue
This book by Andrew Bolton, Karen Van Godtsenhoven and Amanda Garfinkel created for the MET museum in response to the MET Gala last year was my initial inspiration for my publication. The colour scheme, typeface and layout perfectly encompass the fabulous, glamorous, Parisian, fashion-based plotline of my Fredrick Fox transcription. I love the use of pastels and gold foiling; I think this would add a really classy twist on the story and play into the themes of being in a wealthy environment when you don’t fit in. I also really like the book folds out and has another book inside, this to me communicates somewhat of a travel notebook feel.
14/1/20 – Book art shop
I saw this publication in ‘bookartshop’ on Pitfield Street. It is essentially an illustrated story about a rocket ship that then folds out to form a larger image of the rocketship. Not only is this a really interesting example of how to use illustration to communicate a story, but it is also a really interesting bookbinding and folding technique that could possibly be suitable for my chosen audio sample.
13/1/20 - Café Royal books
Café Royal books - http://www.caferoyalbooks.com/
“Café Royal Books is a publisher of limited edition photographic titles focussing on British documentary photography. As well as work made in the British Isles (by home and international photographers), I include international work made by photographers from the British Isles. Café Royal Books is run and founded by Craig Atkinson (2005), in Southport, UK.”
These images on the Café Royal website really interest me. I like how by creating exaggerated spaces between the text it automatically engages the viewer more, not necessarily in terms of reading the information, but in an aesthetic sense. I also like how Café Royal Books manage to position photography within the format of the archive publications, the way that Atkinson selects the images is very clever, playing with simplicity and white space.