LECTURES
Lecture 01: The Form of a Book
As a medium, books are one of the oldest forms of publishing because of
their profound historical significance, and at the same time, they are
also the most important and far-reaching communication carriers. Books
are used not only to convey knowledge, but also to disseminate ideas,
record information, preserve history, and more.
When designing a book, an in-depth knowledge of typography, a good
sense of space, attention to detail, and proficiency in the use of
typography tools such as InDesign are all necessary skills.
Question: In your opinion, what factors influence and determine the
form of a book?
Target Audience: Who is the primary audience for the book?
Example: A children's book might be sized to fit in small hands.
Age group: Different age groups have different needs for books.
Example: For books for young children, soft covers may be used to
prevent injury.
Content type: The content structure of a book affects its design.
Examples: Books with a lot of text or rich visual elements, usually
larger to accommodate maps, charts, and so on.
The format of a book consists of factors such as the type of paper, the
way it is bound, the size, etc.
Historical Format
Historically, the form of books has evolved with technological
advances. New technologies often bring new opportunities and drive
continuous innovation in the form of books.
Regions & Civilization
In the Mesopotamian civilization (in present-day Iran and Iraq), Denise
Schmandt-Bessert (1995) noted in her article on token systems, Records:
Before Writing, that the first writing system originated from earlier
counting methods. The evolution from simple tokens to complex tokens to
the pottery balls encased in tokens laid the foundation for the earliest
hieroglyphs that appeared on clay tablets.
clay tablets
The India Valley Civilization (located in the region of present-day
India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) is one of the oldest civilizations in
the world. Although there are few specific forms and detailed records of
this civilization, they are known to have developed a complex social
system. Cuneiform is one of the earliest known writing systems,
recording information about their government, religion, and trade. This
script is engraved on soft clay tablets using sharp tools.
cuneiform
Around 800-900 AD, the oldest surviving palm leaf manuscript appeared
in Nepal. This medium is very prevalent in the South Asian
region.
Palm leaf manuscript
The ancient Egyptian civilization was one of the earliest civilizations
in the world. In ancient Egypt society, only scribes had the skills to
read and write hieroglyphs. They usually write on a thick piece of paper
called papyrus, which is made from the pith of the papyrus plant. In
addition, Egypt would also inscribe words on the walls of tombs.
Papyrus and tomb walls
During the Han Dynasty (China), Chinese characters were written
mainly in a vertical arrangement. This style of writing not only reflects
the aesthetic characteristics of Chinese characters, but is also closely
related to the materials and tools of the time. Elongated pieces of bamboo
are widely used for writing because their shape is perfect for single or
double column arrangement. Writers can use these strips to skillfully
connect each piece together, resulting in a longer document. This method
not only facilitates the recording and dissemination of information, but
also reflects the unique charm and practicality of ancient Chinese
character writing. At the same time, the lightness and toughness of bamboo
chips make them an important carrier for the ancients to record history
and inherit culture.
Bamboo book
The first Chinese printed book during the Tang Dynasty was the Diamond
Sutra, a classic work written in 868 AD. As one of the important
scriptures of Buddhism, the Diamond Sutra not only has profound
philosophical significance, but also reflects the progress of printing
technology and the prosperity of culture at that time. In 1899, this
precious book was accidentally discovered in a cave in Dunhuang, China,
attracting the attention of many scholars and history buffs alike. Books
were made of high-quality paper and presented in scroll format, a form
that was widely used at the time for easy preservation and dissemination.
This discovery not only provides an important physical basis for the study
of Tang Dynasty culture, but also provides a valuable reference for future
generations to understand the development process of ancient printing
technology.
Diamond Sutra
In the 10th-11th centuries AD, the process of woodblock printing was very
cumbersome. The Confucian classics were published primarily for the needs
of the scholarly class, but a large number of complete Buddhist and Taoist
texts have been circulating since the time of Sima Qian. Before the advent
of movable type printing, this work was particularly important. Although
this innovation appears to be the first of its kind in China, it has
actually affected Korea as well.
Korea movable type printing
The origins of European civilization can be traced back to the period
between 197 and 159 BC, when an important writing material was first
invented in Turkey, which gradually spread to Europe. At the same time,
parchment paper is made on the basis of animal skins.
In the course of the spread of paper, it underwent a long journey, from
China to the Persian-Arab Empire, through Turkey, and finally to the
European continent. By 1400 to 1500 AD, paper became widely available in
Europe. However, it wasn't until the 1860s, when the Boston Weekly first
used wood pulp printing, that the materials used to make paper began to
diversify. The folded format gradually gained acceptance in the West,
initially by sewing wooden blocks together and then combining them with
parchment and later paper to form a form of stitched, bound and glued
paper.
Lecture 02: History of Print
Between the 2nd and 8th centuries, in 175 AD, the Emperor of China ordered Confucianism to be engraved on stone tablets. Confucian scholars aspired to be able to lay paper on these carved stone tablets and rub them with charcoal or graphite in order to record and disseminate these teachings.
Korea and Japan: 750-768 AD
The invention of printing was an important achievement for East Asian Buddhists. The earliest known printed documents appeared in Korea in 750 CE and were printed on a single sheet of paper.
In 768 AD, a Buddhist empress of the Nara period commissioned a large amulet or prayer. The project is said to have taken six years to complete, with a million copies printed for distribution to pilgrims.
"Hyakumantō Darani" is one of the famous woodblock prints and is considered one of the earliest records of printing in Japan.
Hyakumantō Darani
The world's first printed books appeared in 868 AD.
The book is in scroll form, about 16 feet in length and 1 foot in height. The paper edges of the reels are connected by gluing. The first printed illustration appears on the frontispiece, showing a seated Buddha surrounded by divine attendants.
Diamond Sutra's Illustration
Movable type printing: from the 11th century
Movable type printing is a technique that allows individual characters or letters to be arranged in a specific order to form a text, which can then be used over and over again. This concept was tried in China as early as the 11th century. However, due to the large number of Chinese characters, the typesetting and printing process has become extremely complex. Printers in China carved characters into clay and fired them into ceramics, forming the movable type material of the time.
Bronze movable type printing in Korea: circa 1380
By the end of the 14th century, Koreans had established printing foundries using movable bronze type. Bronze is a material suitable for repeated printing, disassembly and reformatting due to its durability. At that time, Koreans still used Hanja and therefore faced the problem of a large number of characters. In 1443, they created their own alphabet, the Korean alphabet, which simplified the typography process.
Icons and playing cards: c. 1400
Around 1400, woodblock printing was introduced to Europe. The woodblock printing method in Europe was similar to that of the East, where ink was applied to an engraved wooden block, which was then covered with paper and rubbed against the back to divert the ink. The main market of this period was the making of icons for pilgrims to buy. In addition, playing cards also became part of the early print trade in the West.
Engraving by the Master of the Playing Cards
Gutenberg and Western Printing: 1439 - 1457 AD
In 1439, Gutenberg's name first appeared in a legal dispute involving printing in Strasbourg. Although there are no preserved prints from this period, it is said that he was already printing texts using movable type techniques in Strasbourg at that time. Subsequently, Gutenberg's reputation in the field of printing gradually spread. In 1450, he borrowed 800 guilders from Johann Fust in Mainz to ensure the continued operation of his printing equipment.
Gutenberg
Gutenberg developed a printing press that was able to apply downward pressure efficiently and steadily. With his metalworking skills, he mastered the craft of making individual letter components. The process involves creating a master pattern for each letter, designing a casting mold, and mass-producing multiple letter components. This exquisite technique is the foundation of printing – including arranging the letters, aligning and evenly spaced to ensure that they are held smoothly in the print frame so that the ink is transferred evenly to the paper.
Gutenberg's printing
In the Gutenberg Bible, there was no dates. It was printed simultaneously on six presses during the mid 1450s. At least one copy is known to be completed, with initial letters coloured red by hand in 24 August 1456.
Lecture 03: Typography Basics
Typography and typography
For graphic designers, typography is as important as oxygen. It is one of the core skills in graphic design and establishes professional standards for designers. This is not only the art of arranging texts, but also a key medium of expression and communication. Typography plays a crucial role in design projects.
The understanding and intuition we have accumulated in the first two semesters will continue to play a key role in book design.
Characters in typographic elements
Small caps
digit
fraction
Ligatures
punctuation mark
Mathematical symbols
Special symbols
Non-aligned numbers
Characters in the font
Ligatures
To ensure the readability of the text of the text, we have developed legibility guidelines that emphasize its importance. To achieve this, designers need to fully understand these rules. To make the text legible, it is advisable to choose a font with openness and balanced proportions.
Examples of Well-Proportioned Typefaces
Computers have introduced many innovative features in the field of typography, but they have also led to the neglect of typography rules and the inadvertent violation of those rules, harming the reader's reading experience. In order to ensure that the text is legible and readable, there are a few key factors that must be considered.
Underline: Many programs mistakenly handle the application of
underscores, when in fact it should be lowered slightly to avoid overlapping with characters, thus maintaining readability.
Small capitals are ideal for the first line of a paragraph's subheadings, while All Caps work well for short headlines or subheads. However, it's important to avoid using All Caps for long sentences or emphasis. Capital letters should be reserved for proper punctuation, rather than being used excessively.
All Caps & Small Caps
Specific Formatting Styles: Various formatting options are available within software for creating footnotes, references, and mathematical formulas. These styles are typically integrated or nested within the tool's features, which may go unnoticed by the average user.
Special-Purpose
Text Scaling: Certain software enables the modification of fonts by compressing or elongating them horizontally or vertically, creating a pseudo-condensed or pseudo-extended effect. This manipulation alters the font's original design, resulting in a less polished and more unprofessional appearance.
Text Scaling
Outline & Shadow: This is another technique that is often overused. Mastering the art of formatting text elegantly and efficiently requires years of practice. When using outlines, ensure they don't exceed 1pt in thickness. Additionally, be mindful that shadows should not stray too far from the main text.
Outline & Shadow
A smooth reading experience is created when there is a balanced relationship between the font size, line length, and the spacing between lines of text. Poor legibility can occur even with well-designed typefaces. Generally, a text column should have around 50 characters per line, with a maximum of 65 characters. Exceeding this length can result in a cramped appearance, making the text difficult to read.
Line spacing, or leading, refers to the gap between lines of text. Although there's no strict rule for how much space to use, several factors influence the decision:
- Font choice: Some fonts require more space between lines to prevent their ascenders and descenders from overlapping.
- Line length: Longer lines of text need more line spacing for easier readability.
- Type size: Larger text typically needs more space between lines. This guideline mostly applies to body text; headlines, despite being larger, may use tighter spacing.
In addition, excessively short or long lines can fatigue the reader and disrupt the natural flow of reading.
The way text is formatted can vary depending on the software used, requiring careful attention. For larger fonts, it's important to modify the spacing between letters, and paragraph adjustments are necessary to prevent isolated lines, also known as widows and orphans.
Kerning refers to the spacing between individual characters, helping to improve the text's overall appearance. While many word processors don't offer the ability to adjust kerning, page-layout programs typically apply these adjustments automatically. However, certain letter combinations may require manual fine-tuning.
Kerning
Tracking: This concept is akin to kerning, but it involves adjusting the spacing between entire selections of characters, words, or spaces. The primary goal is to ensure the text fits within a specific area without changing the font size or line height. Tracking can be either positive or negative. A key application is correcting spacing for individual words or at the end of a paragraph.
Word spacing plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate distance between words, taking into account the selected typeface. Consistent word spacing contributes to a balanced and uniform typographic appearance.
Word Space
Italics: Should be used sparingly, as large sections of italicized text can hinder readability. It’s most effective for emphasizing specific parts of the text rather than serving as the main content.
Capitals: These take up more space and disrupt the reading flow due to their uniformity. They also lack visual interest.
Text Alignment
Left-aligned, ragged right: This alignment creates even spacing between letters and words. Because the lines end at varying points, it’s easier to track where each new line begins. It is considered the most readable alignment.
Right-aligned, ragged left: This alignment can confuse readers, and while it might be acceptable for short sections of text, it’s not ideal for longer passages.
Center alignment: This type of alignment provides a formal and structured look, but it should be used sparingly. Large blocks of text centered this way should be avoided.
Justified text: When designed properly with consistent word spacing and without awkward gaps, justified text can be very easy to read.
Paragraph Spacing
Paragraph Indentation
Indenting is recommended when text is justified. However, combining both indentation and paragraph spacing may be excessive. For a 10-point font size, the indentation should also be set at 10 points.
Special Formatting
Hyphens are primarily used to separate words or numbers, but they may also be used to split words between lines. Headlines and subheadings should never end with a hyphen.
Hyphens & Dashes
Often, line breaks are required to improve readability. Pressing enter directly to wrap a line may change the formatting, but the actual intent is to simply wrap a line. To solve this problem, most programs allow the use of (Shift Enter) to implement line breaks.
Special Formatting
Drop caps are commonly used at the beginning of new chapters or specific sections in a report. They should be limited to a maximum of three lines. If the program lacks automatic settings for this feature, it's best to avoid using them.
Quotation Marks
Lecture 04: The Grid
Raster Systems
The application of grids as organizational tools reflects a particular mindset, demonstrating how a designer approaches their work in a methodical and constructive manner.
A grid organizes a two-dimensional surface into smaller sections, or a three-dimensional space into distinct compartments. These sections can vary in size or be uniform.
Grids employed by designers help address visual challenges. By arranging elements such as text, images, and diagrams within a grid structure, designers can achieve an organized and functional layout.
This approach fosters a sense of structured planning, enhancing clarity and comprehension, and conveys a sense of order within the design process.
INSTRUCTIONS
Exercise
Throughout the beginning and the middle of the semester,
exercises will be prescribed at various phases of the module.
These exercises will aid and benefit you in your quest to gain
theoretical and practical knowledge in book design that will
inform you whilst completing various phases of the module’s
tasks.
All exercises prescribed are to be completed and documented
(labelled, clean, clear & concise) in your eportfolio.
The exercises are as follows:
1) Text formatting
2) Mock-up making
3) Signature folding systems (8+8=16)
4) Classical Grid structure
5) Determining Grids
6) Form & Movement Exercises (Thumbnail)
• 1 Colour
• 2 Colour
• 2 Colours + Image
• Colour + Image + Text
At the beginning and middle of the semester, we will carry out
prescribed exercises at different stages of the module, which will
provide strong support for the theory and practice of subsequent book
design.
In the next task, we will create a 3,000-word book to share our own
story. Therefore, the first exercise is to work out the relevant details
such as the title of the book, the name of the cover, the publication
information, the book number, and the content of the story.
Exercise 01: Text Formatting
Text Formatting, PDF
Exercise 02: Mock-up Making
Final Book Size: 240mmx200mm
After grasping the basic information of the story, we started to test and plan the size of the book. During the test, I utilized A3 paper for folding and measuring. Considering that the size of the book is between A4 and A5 paper, we decided that the base size of the paper needs to be at least A3.
Mock-up making
Exercise 03: Signature folding system (8+8=16)
After determining the size of the book, we next look at how the book is handled during the printing process. To do this, I did an exercise. We used a sheet of A3 paper and folded it in half four times. Place the folded part on the left side, while the right side can be flipped over. We rotate the corner of the folded paper so that the page numbers can be filled in. When we open the whole paper, we can see that it is divided into eight equal sections, but the page numbers are not in order, and the upper and lower parts are reversed.
Signature folding system (8+8=16)
Exercise 04: Classical Grid Structure
After completing the exercises and tests of turning actual paper into a book, we moved on to digital typesetting.
Van De Graaf on Paper
Digital Van De Graaf PDF
Exercise 05: Determining Grids
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