OUGD504 - Laser Cutting Cover Experiments and Stocks

Laser Cutting and Stock Developments

The rough design for the cover will include the two lines at the top and bottom with the title of Dubai sitting between this following the grid system made for the design. This makes a feature of and mimics the concept within the book of the two routes running parallel to one another.

Using the text this time within the design would help to understand how best to create this in the final design, aswell as understanding the adaptations that would need to be made to make it a cover that would fold round the contents creating a softcover book.

- Rastering letters 

When the letters were rastered on different stocks and machines there were varying results, mainly because of the slight differences in settings on the machines. Rastering initially on both paper and card on one of the machines actually scored all the way through, effectively cutting instead. When tested on another machine it continued to do this on paper although less so, but daylight was still visable through it and it didn't stand out very well. However rastering on the kraft card worked much better and created a sandy looking texture within the letters which fit well with the theme of the design. Also the rastered area on the kraft paper actually became darker making it stand out more. 

- Cutting letters out

Cutting the letters out of the design would mean that the cut outs would have to be glued back in place with the other paper behind. This would be almost impossible for the smaller point sizes that were tested as the pieces were so small. If this idea is to be used then a bigger point size would be necessary. 

- Creating a box around the text
Another consideration was to cut out a box in the front cover to allow a larger area of the background paper to show through. The letters for the title would then also be lasercut out of the same top card then stuck within the box which would be easier to stick then perhaps filling cut out letters. Also the box frames the text creating emphasis.

- Cutting the design across the whole cover 

The designs were cut so they spread across the length of the book, however when this was slightly bent the card would distort in different ways because of the openings. The cover will be folded over the contents to create a soft cover book. However if the cover is attached to a backing card, then when folded, parts may warp and unglue themselves because of the cut design.
  

- Gap between the design and edge of the design 

The rough designs set the lasercut areas a centimetre or so in to prevent the design from tearing, if the lines were any closer to the outside then the paper/ card may not be strong enough for use.

New Stock finds

Before now it has been difficult to find any metallic looking papers that weren't reflective, as the colour needed to reflect both gold in terms of luxury and expense as well as golden sand, so there had to be a subtly to the stock rather than a glitzy quality. Both card and papers were chosen as it was thought that perhaps it would be easier to use the paper as the undercolour with the card on top.

The two new papers that were found have a pearlised quality to them creating a more muted gold effect. Although both 'gold', there was considerable differences in shade.

The darker gold came in both a paper version and cardstock, with both looking very similar. When the darker gold (possibly a little bronze) was overlapped with the black, there wasn't enough contrast between the two and the gold started to look brown, especially when put under the black with only a small section showing through. 

There was a difference in the two lighter coloured golds, with the card more of a richer gold and the paper version more creamy - yellow. The richer gold was more yellowy than the darker gold, although this stood out well against the black. However there is some uncertainty as to whether it works with the gold as the dominant colour because of its yellow tinge, so instead it could be used as the background colour. 

A black stock that had more of a bobbly texture to it was also found, which could be interesting in representing the tarmac texture of the road. 

Thoughts and Feedback on elements so far:

Natural paper 
It was suggested that the natural coloured paper worked well in creating a sand like quality and stood out in a subtle way, however it was considered that this was too organic perhaps for the golden aspect of the design.

Thinner line
The thinner lines it was said were elegant and that the bits that had fallen out of the diamonds in the road possibly didn't need to be put back in because it made the design stand out more. 

By having a thinner line this mean the whole of the two lines could be stretched across the cover, which is more reflective of the content lines, however it does not stand out as much as having a thicker stroke width, making it quite subtle. The bits that had fallen out of the beach line however will need to be put back in because the eye is drawn to these spots which is not wanted. 

Thicker line
When a larger stroke width the line stands out more and becomes more organic and abstract, better reflecting the the Arabic writing that it had taken influence from. To create this line width, however, the design had to be enlarged to compensate for the thicker lines, which started to interfer with one another at a smaller scale and lost much of the detail in the design. This meant only a small section of the design could be used, with the middle part being the most curved and script like part. However when enlarged like this some of the elements perhaps lose their elegance. 

It was said that the cut out bits within the diamonds, at this scale, would have to be stuck back in to better show the line. Without these too much negative space is created within the road line.

Gold paper / card
It was said that the new gold papers were more expensive looking and reflected a sand / golden colour. It was said that because the papers were pearlised this looked more elegant than a reflective gold which would have been too shiny. 

Colour Combinations 
It was suggested that having the black on gold was more expensive looking and refined, also the use of black on gold in this way creates the effect of a golden lines suggesting a golden beach and rich road the black becomes the tarmac of the road. However when the gold is placed ontop and the black behind, this emphasises the lines link to arabic writing which is usually done in black.

Text
It was suggested that the box idea was successful and created a clean a refined look. It was laso said that the cut out text which would need parts sticking back in could also work well.

Things taking forward and things that need considering :

- From feedback it has been suggested that the black and the rich lighter gold card worked best together so these will be taken forward.

- Further tests will need to be done, as there is uncertainty as to whether the thinner line or thicker lines are more effective, each having their benefits and disadvantages. The thinner line allows the whole design to feature and looks more elegant however may not stand out on the cover. Whereas the thicker line is more reflective of Arabic writing but potentially becomes too abstract and less representative of the design (it only uses a section of the bigger design), especially when the cover will be folded.

Testing of both the box idea and cut out text idea would need to explored further to see which is most effective.

Although the two coloured cards have been chosen it is not final which way round they will go, so this also need to be tested.

Tests that need doing:

Thick and Thin lined versions of:

Gold on Black with box text

Gold on Black with letters

Black on Gold with box text 

Black on Gold with letters

- The mock ups that have been done are currently not right because the book is to be read backwards so the front cover needs to be on the left rater than right.

- A small spine will need to be added as well to create a soft cover book so a strip of blank card with no design will be needed in order to fold it round and create a strong spine. If it was lasercut all the way across, the top card may unglue itself from the other card through use, whereas when left blank there's more for it to attach to.

- The two stocks that have been chosen are both card so it may be difficult to get this to fold accurately around the contents of the book. Possibly the inside card could be cut to cover the design but the spine would be left free so that there is only the thickness of one piece of card being folded making it easier to bend around the book. There will also need to be two fold on the front and back slightly in from the spine to allow the cover to be bent without taking it away from the spine.