The art of bookmaking can be traced back thousands of years, to a time when books were lovingly crafted by hand on parchment or wooden tablets, adorned with text and illustrations that transformed them into cherished works of art. Nowadays, the production and distribution of books are still evolving, and the art that accompanies them also has more variations. Book art represents a creative mixture of books and art, and incorporates both technical and imaginative disciplines, such as paper making, origami, printing techniques, printing processes, bookbinding, and even innovative material selections.
Binding is an important part of book art, and we need to understand and choose appropriate binding methods. Common binding methods include saddle stitch binding, which is commonly used in the production of zines and magazines due to its simplicity, efficiency, and low cost. Another common and affordable binding method is perfect binding, which is suitable for most books. If we want a more exquisite book, options such as hardcover or hand-sewn binding would be better choices. In addition, there are a large number of binding methods available to choose from, and if needed, we can create our unique way to use thread, screw, wire, etc.
The choice of paper is also an important part of a book, as it affects the whole reading experience, visually and tactilely giving a basic impression of the book and giving a direct impression of the quality of the book itself. As the carrier of the book’s information, we need to take into account the material, thickness, printing effect, visual effect, smell, durability, and so on. We can use paper samples to get an idea of the type of paper available and use trial and error to achieve the effect we want to achieve. If we want to create a unique art style, we can also make paper. By soaking plant fibres, breaking them up, and drying them in a series of processes, we can create richer textures and patterns.
Book printing is also an essential part of book art, directly affecting the appearance of text and images and reflecting the quality of the book, and always affecting our reading experience. In addition to the commonly used digital printing, many other printing methods can be used in book production. For example, letterpress printing, an ancient method of transferring ink to paper by arranging movable type. Also, screen printing uses a template screen and ink to print on paper. These printing methods often give us a fresh feeling, and each has its unique charming points. The subtle differences in gloss can bring a difference. For example, riso printing, which has become popular in recent years, is loved for its unique presentation and colours. However, complex printing also means increased time consumption, and we need to balance the restrictions on printing quantity and cost by choosing the most suitable method for the selected book.
In addition to these, many more aspects of bookmaking need to be considered. By controlling every step of production and finding the most suitable options, book art will continue to bring us the joy of flipping through books unique in their creation.
Written by Luan.