Spitfire Audio - The Annual

In the spring of 2018, British music technology company Spitfire Audio began compiling stories, photos, conversations and interviews with a whole host of musicians and friends of the company, collected together in a very special print publication called The Spitfire Audio Annual.

Click on images to enlarge

At a whopping 246 pages, it is 18mm thick and is shown in the image above with the black covered, debossed slipcase. The Annual boasts behind-the-scenes photography of the extraordinary Schimmel Piano factory and the hallowed Harbeth Speakers workshop, featured in the publication alongside and illustrations by Jan Buchczik.

Click on images to enlarge

Taking cues from the production of music scores, the in-house team has balanced exclusive, beautifully-commissioned stories and images with a specially-designed typeface to sit within its functional, minimal approach to design.

Said co-founder Christian Henson: “There have been many surprises on this odyssey that is Spitfire Audio, an idea born in a pub in Soho with my business partner Paul over a decade ago. All enabled by our extended family, comprised of thousands of like-minded talented people around the world who have given us trust, belief and vital feedback. So, as with any proud family, we thought it only appropriate to create a family album — an Annual — as a memento of an incredible year that we have all shared together.”

The publication size is 270x200mm, portrait and is 'spiral bound', which means it is individual 'leaves' held together with the binding loop. There are 93leaves (186pp) on Shiro Echo, Bright White 120gsm and 26 leaves (52pp) on Harvest, Straw 130gsm. The image spreads are mainly produced on the Shiro Echo and the reproduction is superb.

There are also the lovely surprise 'tip ins' which happen infrequently but work beautifully.

...and a spread showing a Spitfire, printed on Harvest, Straw

Below is a detail image showing the spiral binding (cover is on Cairn board 500 mics from Paperback)

Harvest is a part recycled text and cover paper with a deliberately recycled look and feel with specks and inclusions, so it looks deliberately flecky and specky. Harvest is produced with 30% post consumer de-inked waste, together with 60% of virgin FSC pulp 10% cotton fibres, which gives the paper a wonderful tactile feel. See the image below to see the detail...

Click on image to enlarge

Interestingly, the spread below is printed on Shiro Echo on the left hand side and on Harvest Straw on the right hand page. The printer has worked very hard to compensate for the differences in shade and printability to get a seemingly seamless end result.

The designers of the Annual are Aspa Founti and Tom Howe at Spitfire Audio.

The publication is printed offset litho, CMYK throughout. The excellent print is by Park Communications, who are based in East London, with Steve Ilott managing the project. The below image shows the full extent of the 246 page publication with a thickness of 18mm

This publication is a great piece of print, it also demonstrates a real commitment by the owners of this business that they want to celebrate 10 years, by producing something tangible. A piece of print, an object, a creation that will last (if stored correctly) for hundreds of years. It is a celebration in print and is something that these days is being produced less and less.

https://www.spitfireaudio.com/theannual
https://www.spitfireaudio.com/
https://www.parkcom.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 14.01.2019

What is ...Spiral Binding?

What is ...Number 27
Regular followers of this blog will know that in the middle of the month, I publish a "What is ....? post. The article covers various aspects of paper, printing and finishing in greater depth. However, many of these subjects are complex, so these posts are only intended to be a brief introduction to the topic.

What is ...Spiral Binding?
Spiral binding, also known as plastic coil binding is a useful, functional binding method and a worthy alternative to Wiro Binding. The advantages are that the text pages lie completely flat when open and that the plastic is virtually crush resistant, unlike wire-o, which when bent, will never truly regain it's shape.

Here's an example of a project which has been spiral bound using a clear (transparent) spiral

 ...a close up of the spine:

The binding elements are available in 16 standard colours and can even be bespoke manufactured to special colours for large enough runs. They come in standard sizes from 6mm to 50mm in diameter.

Image courtesy of Dash Finishers: http://dashfinishers.co.uk/

Using a specialist binding machine, these elements are “spun” through punched holes in book blocks and crimped in place. Below is the Hato Press studio Cookbook, bound in a deep red spiral.

Spiral binding is a popular option for products that are frequently handled in classroom and industrial settings such as calendars, children’s books, cookbooks, instruction manuals and even paper swatches!

One important consideration when using spiral binding is the "step up" which happens. As you might notice from the picture below the page on the right is stepped up and this is because it is made from one continuous spiral.

Below is a detail of the top of the spine

 ...and the bottom of the spine:

Therefore the one important piece of advice when using spiral binding is to avoid image or type read-overs over the spine. 

With thanks to Dash Finishers for the information and help.

http://dashfinishers.co.uk/?p=68

Posted by Justin Hobson 16.03.2016