Homework for December 14

How does it look?

Next week we will be discussing your final printed products. Everyone should coordinate with their group to get a look at the project before class on Friday. You should all have a good understanding of any issues or problems before class. Again, the format of next week’s class will be similar to this week, so bring your printed project and be ready to talk about it.

To prepare for this discussion, write the equivalent of one typed page and post it to the class website. Some of the things that you might think about include: How does it feel to see the finished product? Is it everything that you expected it to be? Do any aspects of the object fall short of your expectations? How bright is the white of the paper? How brilliant are the colors of the ink? How do they compare to the colors on your screen?

How does it feel to hold this thing? How does the texture of the paper, it’s weight, it’s thickness, effect your viewing experience? Does the way that you navigate through the pages, or the way that you view the work, change when you are holding it in your hands? Do you feel like this object you are holding is essentially something different than the file you’ve been working on?

If you think back to the first day of class, and our first reading, do you have any new thoughts on the question “What is a book?”

As I said in class today, you will be responsible for giving me a digital file of your final project. If you would like to bring the PDF to class next week, that is great. If one member of your group can email it to me before then, that would be even better. Or if the file is too large to email, WeTransfer.com is a great service for sending large files.

See you next week!

Homework for December 7

There are a couple of things to be done in the next week.

1. Send it to Press! It is crunch time and this should be done in the next couple of days. But make sure you dot every i and cross every t before you send it out. If you haven’t done so already, your group should print out every page with text on it (even if it is not formatted to match) and proofread.

Plan on sending your finished product out before the weekend is over. (Blurb’s estimated delivery with standard shipping is December 14 for files submitted today!)

And BRING YOUR FINAL PDF TO CLASS NEXT FRIDAY! This is the first half of your final grade.

2. After sending your project, write the equivalent of one typed page describing the aspects of your project that you are least confident about. Think about this question from both the design perspective and from a technical perspective.

Did you need to compromise design ideas to create something that would work for your group? Or to fit into the available sizes? Did you have any ambitious plans that you realized you would not be able to finish in the available time?

Where do you anticipate your printed product to differ from your digital files? Are there any bright colors that might shift? Any images that sit close to the bleed? Text that might appear to large? Have you seen examples of materials produced by the printer you’re using? What sort of quality do you expect? Will there be any degradation in your final images? Did any flags come up when you ran your preflight check?

Post your response to the site as per usual.

Homework for November 30

Keep going!!! (And start proofing)

The only assignment for our next class is to continue to work on your final project. But, once again, I expect that to be a lot of work.

I am hoping to see some phenomenal work from everyone, and that is going to require some serious time and energy over the next couple of weeks. The pressing issues are probably slightly different for each group, but there are some things that everyone can do.

It is probably a very good idea to get together with your group at least once before class on November 30. You should make every effort possible to do this in person, but at very least keep in touch with everyone via gchat, Skype, FaceTime, or whatever else kids these days are using.

And start proofing your work. Using an inkjet printer to match colors is ideal (especially with the correct ICC profile). If that is not possible, use a laser printer to run off some tests for proof-reading. Again, it will be best for the group to get together so everyone can inspect the hard copies.

You do not have to run page proofs for the entire book, but bring hard copies of at least a few pages and/or spreads to class on November 30.

Homework for November 16

Design! Design! Design! Design!

It’s been a surreal couple of weeks, and we need to get back on track. So no written assignments this week. But that does not mean you can take it easy for the next few days. If anything, you probably have more work to do this week than any previous week.

I would like to see a ROUGH draft of your finished project from every group by the end of class next week. For most of you that will probably still be quite a bit of work, and a lot of coordination.

Here are some objectives to aim for:

1. A working title.

2. A complete sketch of your layout. (It can be composed largely of dummy text and sketches, but it should be a rough design for the entire publication. If you are planning for 32 pages, it should be 32 pages.)

3. At least half of your art. (If you are planning on using photos, you should have a good number of them shot by next week. If you are using illustrations, break out the Wacom! It would be ideal to start working these into the layout.

4. All of your copy. (However much text there will be, make sure you get it down. I want to read over it, and offer suggestions. If nothing else, I promise you that there will be typos and grammar errors.)

5. A revised brief, outlining idea, dimensions, budget, and company you will use for printing. (You do not need to submit this – not yet at least – but make sure you have a document circulating within your group, so you are all on the same page.)

Be ready to address all of these points in class next week.

For Class on November 9

It was nice to see those of you who were able to make it last Friday. For anyone who could not, don’t worry – you didn’t miss too much. And I’m sure many of you still have bigger things on your mind. The college is doing what it can to make sure we can accommodate ongoing issues brought upon by the storm, and I will certainly do whatever in terms of this class.

There are no new homework assignments for next week. Please do what you can to make sure you are all caught up on previous assignments – especially the one from last week. (That one was a very practical assignment that will help your group to finish your project.)

We will also spend a little bit of time at the end of class reviewing where you are with your group project. I will give you some time in class to work and discuss your current status. But please make sure you organize amongst yourselves, and bring any necessary materials or images to class.

As Friday comes closer, please let me and your group know if you will have any further issues arriving to class.

November 2 Class Update

First of all, I hope that everyone is safe and secure. It’s been nice to see a little bit of sun these past couple of days, but it will probably be a slow process getting back to our daily lives.

That said, CUNY is making every effort to get back on track, and you may have already seen that classes are scheduled to resume tomorrow. I typically bike over anyhow, so I will be there and ready to hold class. But I also understand that many of you will have a far more difficult time getting to campus.

Please (if and when you see this post) email me at mlange@citytech.cuny.edu to let me know what your status for tomorrow will be. I understand that you may not even have power back, and that it may be impossible for you to get there tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting life back on track, and if you are in a position to do so, I hope we can get the ball rolling tomorrow afternoon.

Your safety and well-being are the most important thing right now. Please just let me know what you expect your situation to be tomorrow.

 

 

Homework for November 2

As your projects begin to take shape, you will want to make sure that it is actually possible to execute your plans with a reasonable budget. You will also want to cross reference several sources to make sure you are getting the best possible value.

For next week, investigate the pros and cons of different printing facilities. Choose one printer from one of the lists posted on our website, or find a more appropriate facility for your specific project. Provide the following information from your chosen companies website (or from a quote if necessary):

Size:
Pages:
Cover type:
Binding:
Type of press it will be printed on:
Number of colors:
Paper finish:
Paper weight:
Paper brightness:
Color profile:
Bleed:
Set up costs:
Proof costs:
Minimum quantity:
Total cost:
Cost per unit:
Pros:
Cons:

Post your responses to the website, as per usual. Also, this is an individual assignment but it might be helpful for your group to look into several different options, so plan accordingly!

Homework for October 26

In addition to any tasks that your group agrees on for next week, there is a written assignment to be posted on the blog:

Select one printed item that you find particularly interesting or exciting. Take a very close look at the printing, paper, binding, and finishing used to create this item, and try to determine as many characteristics and qualities as possible. What sort of binding is used? Can you determine the size of the forms and signatures? Can you tell how it was folded and cut? What sort of papers were used? Can you determine the weight, thickness, or brightness of the paper? Look up some specifications and see you if you can estimate some real numbers.

It can be very helpful to pick an object that might serve as inspiration for your group project, but if you have been focused on one or two reference points try to branch out.

Write the equivalent of one page, and also please bring the object that you discussed to class next week. If you do not own the object, or cannot transport it, take a few pictures or find some images online.

Homework for October 12 – Project Brief

This is your most important assignment so far. We are wrapping up the proposal and planning stage, and getting ready to commit to the teams that we will be working with for the rest of the semester.

To wrap this phase up, you will submit a final Brief that clearly articulates your idea. Please respond to the items below in short sentences or simple one word answers. Address each point, and address it exactly. For example, dimensions should not be “the typical size of paperback.” They should 5.5″ x 8.5″. (Even if you are a little uncertain, state something definitively.

Instead of posting this assignment, you will email a copy to me and bring a hard copy to class next week.

Here are the points for you to address:

Title:

Summary:

Overall Style:

Art:

Copy:

Visual References: (It might be a good idea to include images instead of text for this point.)

Dimensions:

Page Count:

Substrate:

Print Run:

Proof Run:

Printing Facilities:

Budget:

Timeline
October 19:
October 26:
November 2:
November 9:
November 16:
(No Class November 23)
November 30:
December 7: Present Final Projects
December 14: Present Final Projects

Additional Notes:

Homework for October 5

All of the proposals that I have seen and heard are fantastic. It really is exciting to be thinking about so many interesting ideas. But now we have to remember that these projects really need to get finished, and in a limited amount of time.

For next week, write about how you plan to execute your proposed project. The goal is to start thinking about the technical specifications that you will need to take into account.

Here are some questions that you should consider:
Which aspects of production can be completed by 4 people? Do you know of someone in the class that is your ideal illustrator, photographer, or typographer?
What aspects of productions must be completed by an outside organization?
Do you need to license or access copyrighted images? Where will you get them and what will they cost?
Where will you get it printed? Will you get the proof printed in the same facility that you would use for printing a large run?
What are the shortcomings of the facilities you’ve researched? Are there any customizations, upgrades, additional printing or packaging will you need to pay for?
In what ways will you need to alter your project to conform to the means of proofing?
How will you distribute the product?
What is your budget? Your group is responsible for funding, so it is probably a good idea to minimize costs.
What is Your timeline? You have under 3 months!!!

Write the equivalent of about 1 double-spaced page and post it on the responses page.