Studio Brief 4 - Mock up of prompt booklet

Initial design for booklet 

To start producing imagery for the booklet and to test how the book would look a few of the prompts were chosen and included: 

- Drawing with tape 

- Distorting type 

- Collecting type

- Using basic shapes 

- Repeating on the photocopier

- Making 2D 3D

- Using ink

- Fold it 

The designs focus mainly on the materials suggested within the prompt or the technique in which to achieve it. The images were created at A4 size so that when the book is created two A4 pages can sit next to each other on the bed to form a double page spread. The size of the A3 spread would be scaled down to A4 to make an A5 booklet. Working at A4 was found to be a good size to position elements within the frame.

To visualise 'collect type' scraps of magazines etc were found and collaged together to show the variety of different typefaces that are easily found within everyday life. 

During this it was found that there was an invert button which reversed all the positive elements to black. This was considered to be an interesting technique as it would allow images to be adapted to show off the material best through contrast variation. It would also allow a balance of dark imagery with light imagery within the design.

When the tape for 'draw with tape' was photocopied it was found that the darker coloured tapes created the most contrast on the white background, where as the yellow looked lighter. However when inverted the yellow stood out more.

The create 'use basic shapes', outlined shapes were printed on paper then cut out with the border left on. When photocopied it was found that the outlines created contrast against the backgrounds and no fill was left making the insides the same tone as the background. 

Using spare 'x's' from a previous project these were put through the photocopier twice to print over the top of one another creating 'repeat on the photocopier'. Where the letters overlap darker areas are produced which creates a sense of depth between 'layers'. Playing with the zoom on the second print meant that both small and large letters could be used within the same design. 

For 'make 2D 3D' foam board letters within the studio were used. When photocopied these have a similar aesthetic to that of Experimental Jetsets Automatically arranged alphabets. To create a better sense of their materialism and show a more three dimensional quality the letters were stacked and lent against each other to elevate them off the photocopier bed creating depth within the image.

For the 'Fold paper' image a single sheet of paper was folded in different ways, so that when placed on the photocopier different parts were elevated creating tonal values within the image. The use of a single sheet of paper reflects how many folding designs can be created using only a sheet. 

To reflect 'distort type' the foam board letters were used again. These were placed on the bed and moved around when the photocopier was scanning the surface, which created different forms. These will have to be explored further as the outcome aren't particularly interesting and some completely lose the sense that they are letters. 

For 'use ink' cut out marks from the black letter project were used in an arrangement which looks like the swipes of a paintbrush. These were quite strong with black on white however when inverted it was found that the strokes took on a fluid appearance and looked almost wet. This reflects the process of creating the strokes really well.

Paper Mock up with different stocks  

Using the photocopier as a away of producing the booklet meant that stock choice could be quite limited because of the restrictions on the weight of stock that can physically be used in the machine. When visiting the library two stocks were experimented with, the bulky newsprint (which is textured on one side and glossy on the other) and normal newsprint which is thinner and glossy on both sides. 

It was found that when the normal newsprint was put through the machine it worked fine on the first run, but when the same piece was put through the machine again to print on the other side the paper crumpled slightly in places. The finish on the paper worked really well however the wrinkling affected the quality of the finished piece, this could have been down to how once printed the paper curls naturally and doesn't lay flat. 

The second stock , bulky newsprint was two toned which created an interesting visual change between pages and made it look more DIY. Also the change in finish meant that the images printed on the different sides had different aesthetic which created contrast within the pages.