Showing posts with label LCC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LCC. Show all posts

Thursday 14 November 2013

Hatch Show Print

Yesterday evening Jim Sherraden, designer from Hatch Show Print (based in Nashville) gave a talk at the LCC in the Main Lecture Theatre.

The talk was organised by Alex Cooper and Rose Gridneff at the Letterpress Workshop at the LCC. Unfortunately I couldn't attend but they kindly sent me the promotional poster, printed 3 colour Letterpress, printed on our Redeem 100% Recycled 80gsm.(size 835x594mm)
This talk accompanied the first UK exhibition for Hatch Show Print at the Chelsea Space and runs until December.  http://www.chelseaspace.org/archive/hatch-info.html

Here's Hatch Show Print's website:
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/hatch-show-print-is-moving/

Posted by Justin Hobson 14.11.2013

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Inside|Outside 2013


Inside|Outside is an interesting project run by the printmaking team at the London College of Communication (LCC). The project involved 3 workshops, 3 locations and 3 processes. "A challenge to revisit the whole process of printmaking, considering parameters such as sustainability, environment, resources and waste. An experience outside the comfort of the studio to let the natural elements changing staff and students' way of thinking."

You can read more about the project lead by Pathway Leader Jack Blake and Printmaking Technician Barbara Salvadori and the LCC students at insideoutsideprintmaking.blogspot.co.uk

The end of project publication is printed by London based co-operative Calverts, chosen as they have excellent sustainable credentials and use all vegetable inks and their energy use is from renewable sources. They selected Favini SHIRO Alga Carta, Avorio 90gsm, chosen because it was in keeping with the sustainable nature of the project, because it is manufactured partly using algae harvested from the Venice lagoon, combined with FSC certified fibres. Algae blooms at the end of Summer in the Venice lagoon as the warm water combines with pollution and must be harvested to maintain the lagoon's eco-balance.
The format is an A5 broadsheet which folds out to A2. Printed in two colours, offset Litho.
Photography and design is by Jack Blake and Barbara Salvadori. Print was handled by Arthur Stitt at Calverts. A most interesting project and publication.

www.insideoutsideprintmaking.blogspot.co.uk
www.calverts.coop
http://www.favini.com/graphic_specialities/en/shiro-prd-21.php
Posted by Justin Hobson 26.06.2013

Thursday 20 June 2013

Coming Up for Air

A couple of months ago Melanie Smith, a graphics post grad student at the LCC, got in touch asking about lightweight and thin papers. Mel had a copy of our Size, Format, Stock and was aware of Offenbach Bible and wanted a material with an almost gossamer like appearance. One of the issues was that she only wanted to produce a limited number of copies. the publication called "Coming up for Air" is about some of the quiet (and green) areas in the city of London.

We discussed papers, format, bindings etc. and I suggested a few options. Anyway, here is the end result, which I think looks absolutely stunning.
The size of the publication is A3 (420x297mm) portrait. It is a 44pp, self cover and is printed on our Offenbach Bible 60gsm. One thing you probably won't be able to guess, or even believe, is that it's digitally printed! The job was printed and finished by MTA digital, who are based in south east London, on their HP Indigo digital press which made printing only a few copies viable - even on a material such as this, which many litho printers are scared of! ...just look at the print result.
Mel really wanted an A3 format, but because of the limitation of the SRA3 sheet size on the digital press, binding options were limited! ...which is why I suggested the singer sewing - which goes through the whole text and is probably better described as "side sewn" - see picture below
This is an excellent example of what can be achieved with a little time and effort. In many ways digital print still suffers from a poor reputation, especially when it looks like a poor colour photocopy on nasty high white supersmooth "digital" paper! This is a great example which shows that using the HP Indigo press, combined with a material that is right for the design together with binding/finishing which lends itself both to the subject and the format, a superb job can be achieved.
 
Design is by Melanie Smith. Print and finishing handled by John Sinnott and Aaron Carpenter at MTA Digital.

http://thetypothecary.wordpress.com
www.mtadigital.co.uk
Posted by Justin Hobson 20.06.2013

Friday 21 May 2010

Typeface - The Movie

This Wednesday evening, I went to watch a film! I was kindly invited to the screening of a film called Typeface which was screened at the London College of Communication at the Elephant and Castle in London and hosted by Alex Cooper and Rose Gridneff at the Letterpress workshop at the LCC.

The film is directed by Justine Nagan and is about a rural US midwestern type museum and print shop. The museum is based in the old Hamilton Company's wood type manufacturing factory in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
It is a fascinating film which not only gives a great insight into the roots and manufacturing of woodblock type and it's increasing use as a design and artistic medium but also documents life in small town America.

Follow this link to read about the film: http://typeface.kartemquin.com/
After the screening, there was a tour of the Letterpress workshop and some drinks!

Below is Alex Cooper talking to letterpress legend Bill Naylor.
It was a most enjoyable evening and great to see so many students and practising designers there.

Sandra Kemp, Head of College, is very supportive of the Letterpress Workshop and announced that they will soon be running Summer School courses which I think will attract a lot of interest amongst graphic designers.

Thank you to all those involved, especially Alex Cooper, Rose Gridneff, Sandra Kemp, Les Claridge and Millie Langlands.

Posted by Justin Hobson 21.05.2010