Printing your own stuff is always nerve-wracking, especially when you are spending over $10,000 of your own money on a thing that is 252 pages long with more than 500 image files. Too many opportunities for things to go wrong. But, also: it’s awesome. Mostly because we were able to print on uncoated paper. Most publishers like to print on flimsy coated paper because it’s cheap and easier to manage on press but an uncoated book feels sooooo nice.
The printing of The 2010 Brand New Awards went relatively smoothly. The body, which was the hardest part was actually the easiest. Printed on Finch Opaque, the ink held very nicely and evenly. I spent around 10 hours at Capital printing in a single seating to approve all 8 forms. The thing I was worried the most was on some of the pages where we had big floods of orange with 85% K type, at 4pt (4pt!!!) and some italics at 6pt (italics!!! 6pt!!!), that I originally imagined would just print on top of the orange but the pre-press department suggested we trap instead. I was very worried of getting that vibrating effect when things don’t register or trap perfectly. In most forms I had to ask for tighter registration and the press folks at Capital frickin’ nailed it.
I had originally envisioned a slightly brighter orange on the body, but one thing led to another and we ended with a very satisfying brick-like orange. Which was perfectly fine. The problem was that I had originally spec’d PMS 021 for the spot color on the cover. And that thing is bright. But in a momentary lack of PMS awareness I completely failed to change the PMS for the cover to match the inside. So the day after the 10-hour marathon I went in for what I thought would be an easy press check for the cover, only to find PMS 021 in all its bright glory, completely different from the body.
We pulled the job off the press and selected a new PMS. The gray was also different. I had spec’d a colder gray and the body had turned out warmer. It only cost $90 to pull the job, and it was only for the wash of the press. We also had to order an additional 100 sheets of the cover paper since we had used up quite a bit in the makeready. That cost an additional $130 and a delay of two days. Back for a press check, and it was perfect.
We are now the proud owners of 50 boxes, sitting in our living room.

Some bonus material.
Scoring, folding and trimming of The 2010 Brand New Awards book:
Here is the botched cover with the bright PMS in contrast to the body. It’s an iPhone photo so not very clear.

And just a couple more shots from the press check.


Editor of FPO and co-founder of UnderConsideration LLC.
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UnderConsideration is a graphic design enterprise that runs a network of blogs, publishes books, organizes live events and judged competitions, and designs for clients.
online
Brand New / Displaying opinions and focusing solely on corporate and brand identity work.
Art of the Menu / Cataloguing the underrated creativity of menus from around the world.
Quipsologies / Chronicling the most curious, creative, and notable projects, stories, and events of the graphic design industry on a daily basis.
Speak Up (2002 – 2009) / Discussing, and looking for, what is relevant in, and the relevance of, graphic design. Archives Only.
Word It (2003 – 2010) / Encouraging creative diversity in the community through monthly, one-word challenges. Archives Only.
Brand New Classroom (2010 – 2011) / Providing a space for critique and opinions on student identity workArchives Only.
graphic design
Department of Design / Designing corporate and brand identities and full development of printed and digital matter for clients.
publishing
The 2010 FPO Awards / 2011, self-published.
The 2010 Brand New Awards / 2011, self-published.
Flaunt: Designing effective, compelling and memorable portfolios of creative work / 2010, self-published.
Events & Judged Competitions
Brand New Conference / A one-day event on the development of corporate and brand identity projects by some of today’s most active and influential practitioners from around the world.
Brand New Awards / Celebrating the best identity work produced around the world.
FPO Awards / Celebrating the best print work from around the world.
Writing
Graphic Design, Referenced: A Visual Guide to the Language, Applications, and History of Graphic Design / 2009, Rockport.
Women of Design: Influence and Inspiration from the Original Trailblazers to the New Groundbreakers / 2008, HOW Books.
The Word It Book: Speak Up Presents a Gallery of Interpreted Words / 2007, HOW Books.
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