Patternise 3-D model Christmas Card

A Christmas card that is also a 3-D model!

Patternise is a company based in Uckfield, East Sussex, who specialise in offering creative design and laser-cutting services. They work with a wide range of clients across the UK - managing large volume projects for major corporates and Visual Merchandisers to smaller projects for individuals and weddings ...and this is their lovely Christmas card:

The card is an A5 (148x210mm) tent format and hot foil blocked and digitally printed (HP Indigo) on our Stardream Crystal 285gsm from Gruppo Cordenons. As you can see from the image above, there is a self assembly push out reindeer model, which is superb!

Image showing the inside of the card...

Click on images to enlarge

Patternise use state of the art laser cutters from Trotec and they specialise in cutting “clean” materials such as fine papers, cards, acrylics and plastics (PP/PET). One of the things that particularly impressed me about this card is that the type and signatures are not printed, they are laser engraved. This is a fantastic process and can add a completely different dimension to printed literature.

The card is produced using their brand new "super pulsed" Trotec galvo system (GS1000), which enables extremely high-speed laser cutting and high volume paper finishing. Using this system they are able to cut many 1000's of sheets within very quick time-frames, which would be impossible with conventional lasers. This whole card was cut and engraved in 24 seconds!

I urge you to watch this quick video showing the laser process - it's only one minute long:

Reverse of the card, which shows the unprinted Stardream Crystal with it's superb pearlescent shimmer....

 ..and here is the Reindeer that I made:

Patternise are based in Uckfield, East Sussex. This is a lovely card, a brilliant promotional item and a fantastic example of the creative uses of lasercutting and laser engraving and of course our Stardream board as well! With thanks to the team at Patternise.

www.patternise.co.uk

Posted by Justin Hobson 22.12.2016

Alexander McQueen Gift Guide - Winter

The Alexander McQueen brand was founded by designer Alexander McQueen in 1992 and is now part of the international Gucci group. The creative director is Sarah Burton and this publication is the Winter gift guide.

Size is 270x210mm, portrait and is section sewn. The cover is printed on an uncoated cover board (sadly I don't know which one) and the 36pp text is printed on our Marazion Ultra 150gsm.



Click on images to enlarge

The text is printed offset litho in CMYK on our Marazion Ultra 150gsm. The Marazion Ultra was chosen mainly because of it's matt flatness which would reproduce the interior images well without a glossiness which would detract from the images. A simple, effective choice of materials.

A thumbnail guide on inside back pages...

A particular favourite of mine is the "Knuckle Box" clutch bag! but then Alexander McQueen originally earned the reputation of being "the hooligan of English fashion"

..see detail below:

Art direction and design is in house at Alexander McQueen. The printing and production is by Identity Print, based in Paddock Wood in Kent.

http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/gb
http://www.identityprint.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 20.12.2016

Fenner Paper 2017 Diary

If you are a wonderful customer and therefore a deserving user of our papers! ... you should have already received your new 2017 diary in the post. Here's a sneak preview, if you haven't yet received it.

 As in previous years, the diary is 230x162mm, portrait and retains the popular 'month to view' format. The cover board is printed offset in CMYK on Crush Corn 250gsm.

The 40pp text is simply printed in one colour, offset litho, on our lovely Offenbach Bible 60gsm, which has a superb opacity and a good writing surface making this an ideal paper for a diary or notebook.

 

The cover is designed by FranklinTill Studio celebrating the maker movement and using a palette of colours forecasted for the year.

Inside back cover

My thanks to FranklinTill for the inspired cover.

Posted by Justin Hobson 15.12..2016



Olivia von Halle - The Talisman Collection

Olivia von Halle is a British luxury nightwear brand that launched at London Fashion Week in September 2011. The brand can be found in nearly 100 stores in 20 countries including Harrods, Selfridges, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and online with Net-a-Porter.com.

Focusing on beautifully cut silk pyjamas in stunning exclusive prints, Olivia von Halle has quickly made a name for itself in the world of high-end nightwear. In 2013 the company was awarded the ‘Blue Butterfly Trust Mark’, which is given to brands and companies that have a positive impact on people and the planet.

This is the lookbook for the Spring Summer 2016 "Talisman Collection". The publication is sub A4 - 290x205mm, portrait. It is a 16pp self cover format printed on Omnia 150gsm.

Click on images to enlarge

Unlike many of the fashion lookbooks featured on this blog, which are printed offset litho, this has been digitally printed on an HP Indigo press. The colours are strong and punchy and the whole publication has a matt, tactile look and feel - in fact I can honestly say, every bit as good as litho!

Although Omnia was never originally developed for digital, we now keep it as a stock item with "sapphire treatment". This treatment is often applied to more unusual papers and provides a "key" so that the inks (which are different to litho inks) work on the paper surface. The great thing is the job just doesn't look and feel like a digital job. Below is a detail shot showing the excellent fleshtone reproduction.

A nice touch is the use of the white wire for the saddle stitches

The self cover format means that it flows well with the pages turning nicely.

Graphic design is by Michael Knight, who runs his studio in East London called A New Mark. Print and finishing is by Gavin Martin Colournet.

http://oliviavonhalle.com/
http://www.anewmark.com/
http://www.gavinmartincolournet.co.uk/

Posted by Justin Hobson 13.12.2016

LCC Postgraduate Show

The identity for this year's LCC degree shows is by Tara Hanrahan at Think/Do, which includes interior signage, exterior signage, wayfinding and literature. This week is the postgraduate show, with over 200 post graduate students showing their work. The Postgraduate shows run from 28.11.2016 to 10.12.2016.

The printed collateral includes this postgraduate information booklet. Size is A5 (210x148mm), portrait and is saddle stitched.

The 4pp cover is on Colorset (100% Recycled) Amethyst 270gsm, printed offset litho in black only

 

 The 8pp text is printed on Crush, Grape 120gsm, printed in two colours, black and a special colour.

Click on images to enlarge

If you are not aware of our range called CRUSH from Favini, it is very unusual! The paper is made partly using the residue from the industrial processing of crushed citrus fruit, coffee, nuts, olives, kiwi, corn, cherries, lavender and most recently grape. These agro-industrial "end of life" products replace up to 15% of conventional tree pulp and are combined 30% post-consumer recycled waste, FSC virgin fibre and is produced with 100% green energy. As a result, the sheet is not a "clean" paper, it has identifiable pieces of residue visibly in the paper, as you can see below...

The range is available in 100, 120, 200, 250 and 350gsm and the shades are natural, earthy tones and the feel of the paper is natural and tactile. See the range here.

Printing is by Calverts, who are a London based printing cooperative who focus on sustainable printing. Another lovely feature, is the use of the black wire stitches below:

Sustainability is an important facet to Tara's practice, which accounts for the selection of these sustainable papers and printer. You can read more about the identity work here:
http://blogs.arts.ac.uk/london-college-of-communication/2016/05/20/interview-tara-hanrahan-on-designing-for-lcc-degree-shows-2016/
Thanks to Tara for sending file copies and the note.

http://www.arts.ac.uk/lcc/events/lcc-postgraduate-shows-2016/

http://www.thinkdostudio.com/

http://www.print.coop/print

Posted by Justin Hobson 08.12.2016

Call of the Wild

As Christmas draws closer, here are some wonderful examples of Christmas cards, all printed on our lovely Shiro Echo, Bright White 300gsm,  which is 100% recycled and has FSC Mix accreditation.

The cards are from a range called "Call of the Wild" by London based card publisher Roger La Borde. They are 4pp cards printed offset litho in four colours and the cards are either laser cut or embellished with hot foil blocking.

 

The below lasercut cards are illustrated by Antoana Oreski

The below card is illustrated by Jane Ray and is embellished with gold hot foil blocking in the illustration which works brilliantly well.

...credits on the reverse of the card showing the FSC logo.

The cards are published by Roger la Borde.

The cards are printed offset litho by Lion House Press who are in West London and the foiling is by Graphite Creative who are based in St Albans. The lasercutting is by Trilogy Lasercraft.

http://www.rogerlaborde.com/

Posted by Justin Hobson 06.12.2016

Jobs from the past - Number 86



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 and here's one from 1995.  

D&AD Newsletter - December 1995

It's unlikely that D&AD needs much introduction. - Founded in London in 1962 as British Design & Art Direction by a group of creatives and art directors, it has since become a world renowned body championing design and creativity.

This piece of literature is an excellent example of the way communication worked in the pre-internet world! Back in 1995, Mary Lewis was president of D&AD and then, as now, the President's Lectures were a popular draw for creatives (back in these days, tickets were either ordered by post or telephone and sent out by post). Feedback from member indicated a desire for transcripts of the lectures to be printed, so that the content could be more widely circulated, so in this inaugural issue, the D&AD Newsletter was re-launched in December 1995, in the main, to disseminate the transcripts of the lectures.

The publication later became known as Ampersand and I will write about the later issues in the future.

Front Cover

Size of the publication is 445x315mm portrait and is a 16pp 'self cover' and is unbound. It has a wonderfully floppy and tabloid newspaper feel. It is printed on our Redeem 100% Recycled 130gsm.



This issue covered the transcripts of the lectures given by Oliviero Toscani....

Click on images to enlarge

...and Maurice Saatchi.

The paper is a neutral white shade gives the publication a 'newsy' feel which really works with the images and most importantly, the pages which are purely type, as below:

Click on images to enlarge

The publication is printed offset litho in one colour (halftone or monotone printing) and the look and feel is just perfect. A well designed and thoughtful piece of print to be delivered, spread information and disposed of - just like a newspaper!

For a sense of scale, below is the outside back cover pictured with a 300mm ruler and a ballpoint pen, remember the size of the publication is  445x315mm.

The newsletter was printed by a company called Penshurst Press based in Tunbridge Wells. Sadly the company no longer exists - they wound up at the end of the nineties.

The design of the cover and contents is by Vince Frost. Deyan Sudjic gave the advice to Mary Lewis to "keep it simple" which this publication does admirably. Content is edited by David Robson of The Independent.

Photography by Giles Revell, cover photograph: Matthew Donaldson, Saatchi Image: David Levenson/Colorific, Toscani Image: A Rau/Sygma.

Vince Frost left for the sunnier climate of Australia just over fifteen years ago and runs Frost* in Sydney.

...and Fenner Paper? ...yep, we're still here!

https://www.dandad.org/

http://www.frostdesign.com.au/

Posted by Justin Hobson 02.12.2016