Publishing Design: Task 2

23.04.2024 - 21.05.2024 (Week 1 - Week 5)

Sorcha Griselda / 0353056 

Publishing Design / Bachelor of Design in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 2 | Content Generation

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LECTURE | Printing

1. Editorial stage
2. Design stage
3. Production stage

Printing Process

Understanding printing process will keep the art director from asking the impossible of the printer. Printer, editor and art director often need to discuss about production needs, limitations, cost, and timelines of printing.

Types of Printing Process:

• Digital Printing
• It allows for on-demand printing, printed using large-format inkjet printers and higher cost per page.
• Letterpress Printing
• The oldest of traditional printing techniques in which many copies of an image are produced by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against sheets or continuous roll of paper.
• Offset Printing
• It is a process which uses an etched thin, flexible metal plate that fits to a curved cylinder and this type of printing can be printed in many types of surfaces. Uses CMYK and spot colors.
• Advantages: Consistent high image quality, quick and easy production of printing plates.
• Die Cut Printing
• Involves the use of metal dies constructed of knife-edge cutting blades formed into a pattern or die.
• Embossed Printing
• The creation of a raised 3D design on paper and can be done on plain paper or combined with ink, images, or foil for special effects.

Special Effect = Time + Cost

Choosing Paper

• Magazine
• Facing a much wider choice of paper stocks. During economy crisis, some magazine change paper choice in order to save cost.
• Book paper - a paper that is specifically designed for the publication of printed books.
• Bond paper - strong, durable paper which is suitable for electronic printing.

Consideration on choosing paper:

1) Weight of paper

2) Feels of the paper

3) The suitability of the paper

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INSTRUCTIONS

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Task 2 | Content Generation

We were instructed to create our book content, so I wrote a short fiction story about the life of an only child. I drew inspiration from Tasha Lim's "Not Quite Alone."

Fig 1.1 3000 Words Formatted | PDF

After this, I began planning the visuals for my project by creating a moodboard to jumpstart the process. I started out by deciding on the typefaces, colors and I also did some rough sketches for my story's illustrations. 

Fig 1.2 My Moodboard

Then, I proceeded with designing the book cover. I decided to implement gradient colors as my book cover's background as I wanted something that is simple yet eye-catching.

Fig 1.3 Process of Book Cover

For the first draft, I did create some flat illustrations for my book. But after receiving feedback from Mr. Hijjaz, he told me that the hand drawn illustrations look better than the flat one. Hence, I followed his suggestion and revised all of the flat illustrations and created them into a hand drawn one.

Fig 1.4 First Illustrations Draft

At first, I tried to do the illustrations on Procreate as it is easier to draw and color. However, I realized that when I convert them to PNGs and place them in InDesign, the visuals got kind of blurry. So, I tried to find an alternative way on how to make my illustrations HD in which I came across that I am able to use Adobe Illustrator on my iPad.  I did all of my visuals in Adobe Illustrator (while using my Apple Pencil) as I wanted the illustrations to be clear as possible.

Fig 1.5 Process of Creating Illustrations

Final Submission:

Fig 1.6 Visual 01 | JPEG

Fig 1.7 Visual 02 | JPEG

Fig 1.8 Visual 03 | JPEG

Fig 1.9 Visual 04 | JPEG

Fig 1.10 Visual 05 | JPEG

Fig 1.11 Visual 06 | JPEG

Fig 1.12 Visual 07 | JPEG

Fig 1.13 Visual 08 | JPEG

Fig 1.14 Visual 09 | JPEG

Fig 1.15 Visual 10 | JPEG

Fig 1.16 Visual 11 | JPEG

Fig 1.17 Visual 12 | JPEG

Fig 1.19 Visual 13 | JPEG

Fig 1.19 Visual 14 | JPEG

Fig 1.20 Visual Compilation | PDF

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FEEDBACK

• Great illustrations, however you need to make sure that they are all in one style. So, it is better for you to stick with the hand drawn illustrations.

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REFLECTION

Experience

Overall, this experience has been quite enjoyable but also somewhat stressful! The fun part was hand-drawing the illustrations, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, it was stressful because I had to create so many visuals in such a short amount of time, which was challenging for me. Despite feeling overwhelmed, the time crunch forced me to adapt my style and push myself to think more creatively.

Observations

During this experience, I had the opportunity to observe the work of many other illustrators and see what techniques worked for them. This allowed me to spend time studying my favorite artists' works, which was both inspiring and educational. I could immerse myself in their styles and claim that I was learning, which indeed I was. It turned out to be a very productive way of improving my skills.

Findings

I discovered that I could use Adobe Illustrator on my iPad to hand-draw the illustrations. Using the keypad for detailed drawings can be challenging, but with the Apple Pencil, I found it much easier to draw freely and precisely. This method allowed me to create more detailed and accurate illustrations, enhancing my overall workflow.

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FURTHER READING

Reference: Book Design: Everything You Need to Make a Stunning Book. (n.d.). Reedsy. https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/book-design/

I decided to read an online article from 'ReedsyBlog' about understanding of how book design can delight the senses, streamline the reading experience, and sell more copies. 

Fig 2.1 Book Design

Book Cover Design

When people think about book design, they usually focus on the front cover (or ‘dust jacket’ for hardcovers). The most iconic covers are classic designs not just because they look good, but because they capture the author’s vision perfectly. A great book cover needs to:

• Stand out visually in a crowded bookstore or as an online thumbnail.
• Clearly display the title and author’s name (many covers fail at this).
• Convey the book’s tone and genre effectively.

Illustrations

Many readers often think that book designers are also illustrators, but in the publishing world, these are two distinct roles. For books that need illustrations, like picture books or cookbooks, publishers and indie authors will hire specialists for that specific task.

Interior Design

As we discussed regarding form and function, the interior design of a book—how the content is laid out between the covers—is crucial for the reader's experience and enjoyment.

Typography

Naturally, any discussion about book design must include the printed word. The art of typography has evolved far beyond the days of mechanical printing presses, entering a magnificent, digitally enhanced golden age.