After being split into groups we were asked the question:
'What is design for print?'
Our group came up with very literal answers at first, and started creating a list of things that actually were print based:
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Books
- Zines
- Business cards
- Stationary
- Leaflets
- Packaging
- Posters
- Mailshots
- Book covers
- Billboards
- Plastic Bags
- Clothing
Then, after a little prompting, we decided that rather giving examples of actual print based items, we decided to list 'printing' processes and design decisions associated with creating printed media:
- Laser cutting
- CMYK / Monochrome / One colour
- Scale
- Colours
- Bleed
- Margins
- Stock
- Mockups & Prototypes
- Application
- Audience
We were a little closer to our answer to the incredibly broad question without being so literal.
I argued that surely everything in this broad sense of 'print' is anything not digital? I thought that so long as the outcome is physical, it can be counted as a design for printing process.
Simon suggested that to explain designing for print more simply, we can break all the processes down into 6 categories:
- Format
The type in this poster has to be legible from at LEAST from across the road if not further. It also has to be waterproof to widthstand English weather and colourful to catch people's eyes outside.
When working with such a small product, all type has to be readable even when the design has been transferred from other formats.
- Colour
The gradient and endless colour palette on this Disneyland Paris map was not a problem since this was printed digitally and so can be produced quickly and easily.
The neon colours in this screenprint are stronger and will be more vibrant for long because the ink used in screenprint doesn't fade as quick as say laser print.
- Production
Through using letterpress in it's production, you can see in the final result the imperfections and lack of solid colour which makes a raw and natural effect.
Again, in lino print you can see the imperfections and scrape marks. In the finished product, you can see it's production.
- Processes
This overlapping effect is a nice genuine/ raw feature that you only really get when experimenting with traditional methods such as screen printing and woodblock print.
Embossing and debossing is a way of adding texture and features as an alternative to using ink in the printing.
- Finishing
Gilding around the edges of the pages adds the finishing touch!
Fore edge printing is an interesting way to incorporate design into the edges of the book and not just the cover and spine.
- Stock
Stock doesn't have to mean paper. These vinyl transfers are suitable for glass and metal and are an example of how anything can become a canvas for print.
Advantages of digital over original print based media: web is ever interchangeable - it's never set in stone like print is.
We were then, in our groups, asked to come up with a list of design for print processes to help inspire us for things to experiment with this year. Here is our list:
- Embossing
- Lino printing
- Debossing
- Screen printing
- Mono printing
- Etching
- Spot Varnish
- Glossing
- Litho printing
- 3D printing
- Laser cutting
- Woodblock print
- Gilding
- Foiling
- Letterpress print
What processes do I want to learn this year?
- Foiling
- Laser cutting
- Screen printing
I want to be more experimental with screen printing and try out overlapping colours and try out different techniques, as I felt like I learnt how to do it last year, but now I want to improve my skills and be able to do it confidently and artistically.
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