What is ...?

Several people have suggested it would be good if I could write about various aspects of paper, printing and finishing in greater depth. Articles that take a subject at a time rather than explaining a processs or technique as it may occur in a project. Having said that, many of these subjects would require whole books to describe, so these posts are intended to be a brief description and summary.

It's a lovely idea (and slightly burdensome to write!), so I've decided that I'll make it roughly the middle post in every month. So tomorrow is the first of the "What is...?" posts.

Posted by Justin Hobson 20.01.2014

James Blake Tour Poster - No. 2

This is another, lovely, James Blake poster for the Overgrown Tour...

Size of the posters is 670x485mm and they are printed in four colour process plus one special, offset litho. The beautiful illustration by Cary Kwok has a lot of detail, really dark colours - letterforms made out of entangled branches, so it was essential to keep the detail without everything filling in.

At the same time, in order to work with the illustration a coated paper was not desirable, a more tactile paper was selected. Omnia was chosen because it has all the tactile qualities of an uncoated material but reproduces fine detail and dark colours amazingly. This poster is printed on Omnia White 200gsm.

Design is by Burgess Studio. Creative Director is Alexis Burgess, designer on the project is Ed Cornish. Illustration is by Cary Kwok.

Print is by London based Jigsaw Colour. This poster was printed with no coating (sealer) the result is beautifully flat, matt and tactile -  just how it should be.

http://jamesblakemusic.com/
http://burgess-studio.co.uk/
www.carykwok.com
http://www.jigsawcolour.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 17.01.2014

 

03.11.2014 - I amended this post today. I had wrongly credited another illustrator and amended it today to read Cary Kwok, my apologies.

RBB|Economics - Corporate Brochure



This is the corporate brochure for RBB Economics, a specialist in the field of economics of competition law. This piece of literature demonstrates the company's abilities using a combination of essential facts and figures together with client testimonials.

The size is 232x165mm, portrait. and is singer sewn. It has an 8pp cover and a 16pp text. The cover is printed on our StarFine White 300gsm, which is an uncoated text and cover range. The cover is printed in two specials (blue and green) and the type is blind embossed. Text is printed on our Marazion Ultra 135gsm and is printed offset litho in CMYK plus two specials.

The below picture shows the front cover which is 'blind embossed' and shows the singer sewing with the light green thread. The brochure has an engaging feel, the singer sewing making it feel special with the combination of uncoated and coated materials working well with the content. it's also worth mentioning that the large areas of blue solid has been well printed and looks great which is both testament to the quality of the printing and the papers used (for those not in the know, blue is generally regarded as the hardest colour to print and can be a test to a printer and if the paper isn't up to the job, the result can looked mottled and patchy).

Art direction and design is by Hatton Garden based consultancy, 400. Creative Director is Paul Dennis, designer on the project is Liam Bonar. Print and finishing is by London printer Push.

www.rbbecon.com
www.400.co.uk
www.push-print.com

Posted by Justin Hobson 15.01.2014

Graphic Birdwatching Map

The Graphic Design Walk, organised by Graphic Birdwatching is a combined open studio walk and design exhibition celebrating the work and practise of both local and international female creatives.

Last year's walk (2013) took place over two days in September during the London Design Festival and there were a dozen studios in East London who opened their doors. On registering for the walk, you were given this lovely map to navigate your way around the studios. Size of the map is 420x593mm folding down to 210x132mm.

This year, the map is illustrated and it looks absolutely stunning:

The paper chosen is our Redeem 100% Recycled which is a neutral white recycled paper. It works just beautifully with this illustration. Below picture shows the 65mm flap which provides the index overlaying the map:

On the reverse of the map is information and work of the various studios. The map was printed offset litho and finished by SPM Print who sponsored the printing. Chris Chadbon dealt with the print production.The map is printed on Redeem 100% Recycled 100gsm in CMYK on both sides and we sponsored the paper for the map, as we have in previous years.

 

The map is designed and illustrated by Karolin Schnoor who is one of the Graphic Birdwatching members.



http://www.graphicbirdwatching.com/

www.karolinschnoor.co.uk

http://www.spmprint.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 13.01.2014

Matt Cant ...do without his diary!

Matt Cant is a photographer based in Wales and the Fenner Paper diary is part of his 'must have' equipment. He kindly got in touch this year, together with a picture showing the well used diaries that he's used over the years!

Thanks Matt.

Have a look at his blog and website:
www.mattcant.blogspot.com/
www.mattcant.com

Posted by Justin Hobson 09.01.2014

John Bellany: A Passion For Life



This is a private view invitation for a major exhibition titled 'A Passion for Life' devoted to one of Scotland’s most outstanding contemporary artists John Bellany.  Works from a career spanning over fifty years have been brought together in this retrospective exhibition also celebrating his 70th birthday year held at the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, last year. On display were paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints, many of which have rarely, if ever, been exhibited.

The invitations which are printed on our Omnia 320gsm and which (as you can see) faithfully reproduces the detail and of Bellany's work.

This invitation is a 4pp, portrait, A5 (210x148mm) format and is printed offset litho. The colour reproduction is strong and vivid and the whole invitation has a matt, tactile look and feel.

The inside of the invite is printed with a flat red solid with reversed out type. Again, the red solid is dead flat, tactile and looks great.

You can read more about the exhibition here:
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/john-bellany/

Design and Art direction is by Freytag Anderson, a Glasgow based studio run by creative partners Daniel Freytag and Greig Anderson. A beautifully executed piece of work.

Printed by J. Thompson Colour Printers, who are one of Scotland's leading printers (who co-incidentally have a stunning array of printing presses)

www.nationalgalleries.org
www.freytaganderson.com
http://www.jtcp.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 08.01.2014

Jobs from the past - Number 51

Regular followers of this blog will know that my first post of every month is a "job from the past" so that I can show some of the really good work from years gone by...

Manchester Dogs Home Annual Review
2001-2002

This is a stunningly produced charity annual report. Manchester based agency, The Chase provided creative services for the dogs home on a pro-bono basis which resulted in many great pieces of literature being produced in the early 2000's. This report, under the title, 6,796 Dogs, was produced by the London office of The Chase and was much talked and written about, winning several awards. 

Size of the report is 420x297mm, portrait and is a 28pp 'self-cover' and is unbound. It was produced on our Optimale, Blanc Naturel 120gsm (which sadly is no longer available, since the mill closed).

The superb photography is by Manchester based photographer, Mat Wright.

Above, one of the illustrated images made up using binary code characters.

Picture below, showing the fact that it is unbound - left loose, just like a newspaper:

The report won the DesignWeek Award for Annual Reports in 2003, was nominated for a D&AD award, received a Gold award from the Art Directors Club together with various other accolades and regional awards.

Creative Director on the project was Harriet Devoy at The Chase in London, senior designer was Stephen Royle. Harriet moved to Apple in 2007 and Steve has since returned to his roots in Manchester and is creative director at The Chase in Manchester.

 

The report was printed offset litho by New Leaf Press, based in Manchester who made a beautiful job of printing the project. The project was sponsored by the Co-Operative Insurance Services (CIS) who funded the printing, so it's only fair that over ten years later, they should get some credit. 

http://www.thechase.co.uk/

http://www.dogshome.net/

http://www.matwright.com/

www.co-operativeinsurance.co.uk

http://www.newleafpress.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 06.01.2014