Nikon D7200 55-300mm
Sony Alpha 7R 35mm
Adobe CC

MATERIALS

Davey Board
Linen Thread
Curved Needle
Red River Matte Photo Paper

SPECIAL THANKS

Kathya M. Landeros
Katherine M. Ruffin

RESOURCES USED

Photopedagogy.com Coptic Binding Coptic Binding Instructions (Book Arts Lab)

RESEARCH & BACKGROUND

A book is not just a collection of pages with words and images printed on them; it is an artifact that represents a cultural, historical, and artistic expression. The physicality of a book can reveal much about its origin, from the quality of paper and ink to the style of binding and cover. Bookmaking, therefore, is not just a technical process of assembling pages and covers, but an art form that requires a deep understanding of materials, techniques, and aesthetics. The craft of bookmaking has evolved over centuries, with different styles and traditions that reflect the cultural context in which they emerged. Today, bookmaking continues to be a form of creative expression, with artists and designers pushing the boundaries of form and function to create unique and meaningful books. Whether it is a handmade journal, a limited edition artist's book, or a mass-produced bestseller, a book is more than just a container of information; it is a cultural artifact that reflects our history, values, and aspirations.

As I was reading articles and watching videos for research, I was also invited to the Book Arts Lab to learn how to create different book forms. Learning the process of making these books gave me a better idea and understanding of what I wanted to create. 

PLANNING

For this step, I created a detailed and concise timeline for completing certain aspects of my project. In this stage, there were many preliminary decisions to make before moving onto the next step. These decisions included picking a theme, choosing pictures to use, as well as fonts styles, and titles. In terms of the physical book, in this stage I decided on the book size, paper type, binding style, and cover material.

Theme/Concept: Building exteriors and interior spaces
Number of Photos: 61
Titles: Tecture, Lucid, Aurora, and Solace
Book dimensions: 11” x 8.5”
Cover/back material: Printed photo glued to davey board
Paper type: Red River Matte Paper
Binding style: Coptic binding

FOLIO DESIGN

Working on folio design was the most challenging part of the entire process. This is because for my final book, there are 4 smaller booklet sections that are sewn together. As these folios are folded in half and embedded within each other to create a section, the page numbers do not correspond directly to the folios created on Indesign. In order to figure out which page would go where in the physical book, I created a mini prototype of my actual book. Using this demo book, I was able to visibly and tangibly plan which photos would correspond to which folio. 

PROOF & FINALIZE

In proofing and finalizing my folio spreads, I first print each of my spreads onto regular paper and folded each folio into its respective booklet section. After doing this, I looked for errors in photo order and copy text, noted down these edits, and made the necessary changes on the digital copy. Once all adjustments were made, I printed the final folios onto the matte photo paper and prepared to construct my final physical book!

This project proved to be a rewarding and engaging experience that allowed me to fully immerse myself in the process of creating a physical artifact to represent my work. Each step of the process required careful attention to detail and a lot of trial and error. My final product proves to not only be a representation of my work, but also a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship that went into its creation.