17/05/11 - Self-initiated 2 – nearly there!

Have spent three very long evenings/nights/early mornings at printclub in Dalston and have broken the back of the Japan magazine printing. It’s not entirely how I would like if I hadn’t lost a week plus of working time but some of the effects I wanted to create are there and I’m pleased I persevered with all my glazes and subtle prints.

I really wanted to try printing the black pages on black ‘Plike’ 120 gsm by GF Smith but just did not have time to go to Old Kent Road and buy the 50 odd sheets I would have had to get (I tried shops and printers nearby but no one stocks Plike as a routine supply). I’m really disappointed about that as Plike has a really amazing texture – almost suede-like – and it would definitely have added another dimension to the magazine. Guess I’ll just have to live with that.

Most of all I’m happy with the cover. I got some slightly heavier stock for the cover and went through the double-photocopy and print process again to test it. I chose Zerkall 120 gsm  (the other white page stock is 105 gsm) to give the cover a very slightly weightier feel but it still has the slightly smooth on one side and matte on the other thing going on as i was keen to choose a cover which preserved that texture. Here are the front and back covers with the text printed on them – the text is cropped to fit with the ‘partial view’ title. Next stage is to finish off any small outstanding print bits – nothing to difficult left, cut all the pages down and bind – simple Japanese binding – black linen thread bound on the left hand edge (because it’s a magazine from my perspective) not the right (as in Japan)