Monday, July 1, 2013
My Book Binding Experience
I used to refer to myself as a perfectionist, but this program has broken me. I did not rush, I thought I measured correctly, I thought I printed correctly, but human error is a very real, deadly and tear-inducing thing. Needless to say, I inadvertently managed to bind a "What Not To Do When Book Binding" book. Margins are mismatched, things are off-center and I had to leave the bleed on my cover in order for it to cover all of the interior pages...among many other things all of your eagle eyes will spot tomorrow. The bright side: I know I can nail it on round two (*sigh of relief this is a draft*). I posted a picture of my sweet binding press I crafted -- and I used PVA glue which did the trick. I too, did go to Office Depot to get them to trim my pages, which turned out great and only cost me $0.89 -- I don't think I've paid that cheap for anything in a long time. Can't wait to see all of your beautifully bound creations tomorrow.
Re: What the Future Holds
Emily, that is a beautifully written article. I think one of my favorite quotes (besides the one you pulled) is "It is not just the stories, but the physical book, the way I feel when I see the spines, when I read the titles, the very feel of the paper under my fingers as I turn the pages." This really describes my love of the physical book so well.
I recently saw a semi-related article/survey in the latest edition of GD USA (a full version can be found online here) that talks about print design. It is a fairly lengthy article/survey, but the consensus is that print isn't dead or dieing, just evolving. Some quotes from the article and people surveyed are:
"Humans like to touch and print is the ultimate tangible medium. On that basis alone, the present of print is meaningful and the future promising."
"If print media is going to be around in 50 years, it's going to be because it works as a complement to digital media. It picks up some of the areas digital media lacks and vice versa."
"Until we're only Avatars in an electronic medium, people will need to touch, feel, see and engage with print in the world."
"As we are inundated with digital media, printed pieces become more rare and that simple fact helps them stand out, provided that the piece has relevance or an interesting story to tell. As humans, we still like to touch, feel and smell tangible things."
"Print will always have a place in graphic communications. Web and social media is an ever flowing river and always changing. When you want to make something that will last, that will make a statement, you work with print. People relate to the tangible and intangible in different ways. There is a beauty in print that can not be replicated online."
I think some of these quotes support what Callan was saying about printed books becoming more of an art. While I prefer the feel of a printed book, I tend to only buy them if I really love the design or just can't wait to borrow it from a friend or the library. I'm not one to reread anything, so a poorly designed book or one that I'm unsure about whether I will enjoy the contents, really has no longevity in my home.
My dad is a book collector who has books signed by the authors, and then sells them online. Since he is so much a part of the book scene, I decided to call and get his thoughts on this topic. He believes that with the increased popularity of electronic readers there has definitely been a decrease in the amount of books being printed, but that he hasn't noticed a decrease in the sales of the signed books he sells. He says he often sees people who have read a book in electronic format buy signed copies to keep on their book shelves. To them, a signed copy of a favorite book is valuable to them in a way that the electronic version isn't. That said, he believes that while printed books aren't going away any time soon, he thinks there is a good chance that hardback books will be phased out and we will possibly see more first editions printed as soft covers which would be sold at a higher cost.
I may have to succumb to electronic books one day, but I will go down kicking, screaming, and scouring the aisles of used books stores before that happens.
I recently saw a semi-related article/survey in the latest edition of GD USA (a full version can be found online here) that talks about print design. It is a fairly lengthy article/survey, but the consensus is that print isn't dead or dieing, just evolving. Some quotes from the article and people surveyed are:
"Humans like to touch and print is the ultimate tangible medium. On that basis alone, the present of print is meaningful and the future promising."
"If print media is going to be around in 50 years, it's going to be because it works as a complement to digital media. It picks up some of the areas digital media lacks and vice versa."
"Until we're only Avatars in an electronic medium, people will need to touch, feel, see and engage with print in the world."
"As we are inundated with digital media, printed pieces become more rare and that simple fact helps them stand out, provided that the piece has relevance or an interesting story to tell. As humans, we still like to touch, feel and smell tangible things."
"Print will always have a place in graphic communications. Web and social media is an ever flowing river and always changing. When you want to make something that will last, that will make a statement, you work with print. People relate to the tangible and intangible in different ways. There is a beauty in print that can not be replicated online."
I think some of these quotes support what Callan was saying about printed books becoming more of an art. While I prefer the feel of a printed book, I tend to only buy them if I really love the design or just can't wait to borrow it from a friend or the library. I'm not one to reread anything, so a poorly designed book or one that I'm unsure about whether I will enjoy the contents, really has no longevity in my home.
My dad is a book collector who has books signed by the authors, and then sells them online. Since he is so much a part of the book scene, I decided to call and get his thoughts on this topic. He believes that with the increased popularity of electronic readers there has definitely been a decrease in the amount of books being printed, but that he hasn't noticed a decrease in the sales of the signed books he sells. He says he often sees people who have read a book in electronic format buy signed copies to keep on their book shelves. To them, a signed copy of a favorite book is valuable to them in a way that the electronic version isn't. That said, he believes that while printed books aren't going away any time soon, he thinks there is a good chance that hardback books will be phased out and we will possibly see more first editions printed as soft covers which would be sold at a higher cost.
I may have to succumb to electronic books one day, but I will go down kicking, screaming, and scouring the aisles of used books stores before that happens.
Re: What the Future Holds
Amy hinted toward this topic a little in class, but I think it's an important discussion to have.
Tangent: When I started college, the digital "revolution" was just beginning to take off. I didn't have a cell phone. I rented a desktop computer from the campus technology department. I was still using a CD player and my camera took regular old film. Sure, I had friends who had cell phones, laptops, iPods, and digital cameras, but most of us just looked on enviously. That was only 10 years ago. Now, you're practically a social pariah if you don't have at least a cell phone. My point: things change quickly.
Not too long ago it was OK to specialize in print design, but now, it's poor decision making to not at least familiarize yourself with web development and the digital arena while you're in school.
I agree with you, Callan, that books won't disappear completely. But I'm not sure all of them will become art objects. Maybe those like Amy's Star Wars book? I do think our children will treasure all of them like we treasure things from our parent's past. In class when Amy asked how many people preferred to read on a screen, I thought it was interesting that only about half of the class raised their hands. That makes me think that it may take a few generations to truly see the future of books because we millennials may not be quite as ready to give up paper as it may seem.
My mom sent me an article last year by Rick Bragg in Southern Living Magazine. You can read it here. I loved the way he spoke about books as his treasured objects and his escape from the world. I feel the same way.
My favorite quote from the article: "But I hope I will never have a life that is not surrounded by books, by books that are bound in paper and cloth and glue, such perishable things for ideas that have lasted thousands of years, or just since the most recent Harry Potter. I hope I am always walled in by the very weight and breadth and clumsy, inefficient, antiquated bulk of them, hope that I spend my last days on this Earth arranging and rearranging them on thrones of good, honest pine, oak, and mahogany, because they just feel good in my hands, because I just like to look at their covers, and dream of the promise of the great stories inside."
I couldn't agree more.
Tangent: When I started college, the digital "revolution" was just beginning to take off. I didn't have a cell phone. I rented a desktop computer from the campus technology department. I was still using a CD player and my camera took regular old film. Sure, I had friends who had cell phones, laptops, iPods, and digital cameras, but most of us just looked on enviously. That was only 10 years ago. Now, you're practically a social pariah if you don't have at least a cell phone. My point: things change quickly.
Not too long ago it was OK to specialize in print design, but now, it's poor decision making to not at least familiarize yourself with web development and the digital arena while you're in school.
I agree with you, Callan, that books won't disappear completely. But I'm not sure all of them will become art objects. Maybe those like Amy's Star Wars book? I do think our children will treasure all of them like we treasure things from our parent's past. In class when Amy asked how many people preferred to read on a screen, I thought it was interesting that only about half of the class raised their hands. That makes me think that it may take a few generations to truly see the future of books because we millennials may not be quite as ready to give up paper as it may seem.
My mom sent me an article last year by Rick Bragg in Southern Living Magazine. You can read it here. I loved the way he spoke about books as his treasured objects and his escape from the world. I feel the same way.
My favorite quote from the article: "But I hope I will never have a life that is not surrounded by books, by books that are bound in paper and cloth and glue, such perishable things for ideas that have lasted thousands of years, or just since the most recent Harry Potter. I hope I am always walled in by the very weight and breadth and clumsy, inefficient, antiquated bulk of them, hope that I spend my last days on this Earth arranging and rearranging them on thrones of good, honest pine, oak, and mahogany, because they just feel good in my hands, because I just like to look at their covers, and dream of the promise of the great stories inside."
I couldn't agree more.
What the Future Holds
*Sorry this is so late
For a long time the questions of what is the future of the books has been up it the air. Many would argue that books as we know them are dead and that the book read on a tablet is the future.
I have heard a similar statement before when I was a Photography major at MICA. Film was being pushed to the side to make way for digital photography, and many of my friends told me "Film is dead?"I would say right back to them "Film will never die!". As it turned out we were both right. Digital has replaced film in all commercial forms, and many photo students are taught digital photography excursively.
But film is not dead! though many photo supply companies have stop production on film products, many new smaller companies have popped up and began to sell black & white film and other darkroom martial. Proving that there is still a desire for the "old fashion" ways of taking photos. Film photography has became something artisan and avant garde.
Books and photography have the many parallels, they both have one foot in the realm of practical application and one foot in the realm of high art. I believe that the fate of the print book is similar to the fate of film. I believe that in the future most books will be put out only in digital, but the books that are made into print will be art objects. These print books one will look through with white glove on (as to not damage the pages with the dirt on your hands), they will be things you past down to you grandchildren.
I believe this is all ready starting to happen. Many classic books are being produced with such care and high end design elements.
I am curious to hear what every one thinks is the future of the print book. And how everyone feels about my theory of books becoming art objects in the future.
For a long time the questions of what is the future of the books has been up it the air. Many would argue that books as we know them are dead and that the book read on a tablet is the future.
I have heard a similar statement before when I was a Photography major at MICA. Film was being pushed to the side to make way for digital photography, and many of my friends told me "Film is dead?"I would say right back to them "Film will never die!". As it turned out we were both right. Digital has replaced film in all commercial forms, and many photo students are taught digital photography excursively.But film is not dead! though many photo supply companies have stop production on film products, many new smaller companies have popped up and began to sell black & white film and other darkroom martial. Proving that there is still a desire for the "old fashion" ways of taking photos. Film photography has became something artisan and avant garde.
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| Artist book "Tony" By Sarah Robbin |
Books and photography have the many parallels, they both have one foot in the realm of practical application and one foot in the realm of high art. I believe that the fate of the print book is similar to the fate of film. I believe that in the future most books will be put out only in digital, but the books that are made into print will be art objects. These print books one will look through with white glove on (as to not damage the pages with the dirt on your hands), they will be things you past down to you grandchildren.
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| Coralie Bickford-Smith Cloth bound books for Penguin |
I am curious to hear what every one thinks is the future of the print book. And how everyone feels about my theory of books becoming art objects in the future.
Re: (Nathan) Assignment Three
Hi Nathan! I think a good way to think about project 3 is to not necessary think about it like you would be reading the story out of order. Instead, maybe approach it from a different standpoint. Using one of the examples Amy showed us, maybe there is a story with multiple characters and that same story can be told from different perspectives of each character? So, instead of reading it as the author initially wrote it, you would pick the character whose perspective you wanted to read the story from. Or, another example, maybe you want to give the reader more information that might not be included in the original story?
I think, for now, you should focus more on how can you see a story from a different angle, or what story might be more interesting or interactive if you include more information that the reader can decide whether or not they want to view. Then, once you get a solid idea, you can really figure out the ins and outs of how to make that function and work together for an iPad.
Does that make sense? I hope so...
After hearing our classmates ideas in tomorrow's class, hopefully that will also help you get a better grasp on this project.
Good luck coming up with an idea! You seem to be a very creative person, so I think once you get around the iPad/Hyperbook confusion, you will come up with a great idea. :)
I think, for now, you should focus more on how can you see a story from a different angle, or what story might be more interesting or interactive if you include more information that the reader can decide whether or not they want to view. Then, once you get a solid idea, you can really figure out the ins and outs of how to make that function and work together for an iPad.
Does that make sense? I hope so...
After hearing our classmates ideas in tomorrow's class, hopefully that will also help you get a better grasp on this project.
Good luck coming up with an idea! You seem to be a very creative person, so I think once you get around the iPad/Hyperbook confusion, you will come up with a great idea. :)
Assignment Three
I'm bloody terrified of the third assignment. I don't own an iPad, I've never read a hyperbook, and I don't understand why anybody would want to read a book out of order. I'm at a complete loss. Can somebody please give me some idea of what it is I'm doing here?
RE:Trimming
Thanks for the responses and advice! I ended up getting my inside pages trimmed at Office Depot (on Presidents near inner harbor) and they did a pretty good job. There is only slight unevenness at the top (or bottom) of the cut. It only cost $1.50 which was great. I'm curious to hear if anyone was able to get clean cuts with a utility knife. That was my original plan and then I got too scared to mess it up after having to bind the pages overnight.
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