The Printing Process, Book Pre-Orders
First off, I've had a few emails asking how people can get the book now that the Kickstarter campaign has completed. I've added it as a product on my website, and you can pre-order it now. I expect to be shipping in mid-late August. Getting closer now!
I spent over seven hours in the car today, driving to and from Castle Print who are the printers of the book. They're based in Galway, which is about half the country away from me. However, the time was well worth it.
I arrived to sign off on the first pages from the book, fully expecting to have to do some tweaking of colour and tone before I was happy with the result. I went through the door and was greeted with a sheet of four spreads from the book. The colour and tone was spot-on accurate. I was floored. No adjustments were necessary, so I was free to wander about the printing floor and take photographs to document the process for you.
The paper for my book. Scary! That's all of it, except for another pallet's worth, which was in the press itself.
John, the press operator, checks one of the sheets for colour accuracy. This device compares the ink densities with the source material I sent (which was colour managed on my end, then translated by the pre-press department to something the press can understand). Anything under 2.5% variance from the ideal is tolerated (which is less than the eye can detect).
This is the press itself. It's about as long as my gallery. This is the business end where the blank paper (the white block to the right of frame) is fed in, and the finished sheets come out the other end. Note the hammer on the control panel to the left of the paper.
Those are some warnings I've not seen before. I don't have them on my printer, anyway!
Preparing the next batch of paper.
3,000 sheets of section 7 of the book. Seeing the sheer quantities involved really brings home how many books we're talking about!
John lays out the new plates for the next section to be printed. These are light-sensitive and can't be left exposed for too long. There's one plate for each colour - cyan, magenta, yellow and black.
There's each of the spent plates from the previous sheet. It's interesting to see the differences in each one - it's very visible in the Doo Lough image at bottom left of each plate.
The plates are used only once and are then recycled. I was told that you can run more than half a million sheets off one plate, but that they don't age well so can't be stored.
John checks one of the first sheets from the new section for problems before committing to the full run.
I also shot a short video while I was there so you can get a sense of the noise and how the machine operates.
The books will be printed by tomorrow, then there's a day of folding and compiling the sections. Binding will be next week, so I'm hoping to take delivery before I get back from Iceland at the end of the month!
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Funding period
Jun 4, 2012 -
Jul 4, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 27 backed
- Peter Cox 152 friends
- Website: petercox.ie
Pledge $10 or more
5 backers
Thank you! Every bit helps. You'll receive a bundle of three desktop wallpapers for your PC or Mac featuring some of my favourite photographs.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $25 or more
12 backers
You'll receive the e-book of "Irish Light" in PDF format, as well as the desktop wallpaper bundle.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $50 or more
81 backers
You'll receive a signed, copy of the finished book "The Irish Light - A Collection of Landscape Photographs". To receive the e-book in PDF format as well, please add $25. (This includes shipping within Ireland. For international shipping, please select the $65 pledge level below).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $65 or more
155 backers
You'll receive a signed, copy of the finished book "The Irish Light - A Collection of Landscape Photographs". To receive the e-book in PDF format as well, please add $25. (This includes shipping anywhere in the world. For shipping to Ireland, please select the $50 pledge level above).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $100 or more
7 backers
Choose this reward if you wish to have 2 copies of the book - one for you, and one to gift to a friend or loved one. Both copies will be signed. (This includes shipping within Ireland. For international shipping, please select the $130 pledge level below).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $100 or more
3 backers
You'll receive a signed copy of the finished book, the e-book in PDF format, plus a signed "Souvenir” size print (9x6") of your choice. (This includes shipping within Ireland. For international shipping, please select the $115 pledge level below).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $115 or more
21 backers
You'll receive a signed copy of the finished book, the e-book in PDF format, plus a signed "Souvenir” size print (9x6") of your choice. (This includes shipping anywhere in the world. For shipping to Ireland, please select the $100 pledge level above).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $130 or more
11 backers
Choose this reward if you wish to have 2 copies of the book - one for you, and one to gift to a friend or loved one. Both copies will be signed. (This includes international shipping. For shipping within Ireland, please select the first of the $100 pledge levels above).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $250 or more
4 backers
You'll be named (if you choose) in the "Acknowledgements" section of the book, and I will personalise the signed copy I send to you. In addition, you'll receive the e-book. You will also choose your favourite image from my portfolio, to be beautifully printed and signed at 18x12" - my "Gallery" size. (This includes shipping within Ireland. For international shipping, please select the $265 pledge level below).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $265 or more
19 backers
You'll be named (if you choose) in the "Acknowledgements" section of the book, and I will personalise the signed copy I send to you. In addition, you'll receive the e-book. You will also choose your favourite image from my portfolio, to be beautifully printed and signed at 18x12" - my "Gallery" size. (This includes shipping anywhere in the world. For shipping to Ireland, please select the $250 pledge level above).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $500 or more
3 backers
You'll receive the leather-bound special edition of the book. Complete with a linen embossed cover, a beautiful slip case and an enclosed portfolio of 5 archival prints, signed and titled by me, this is the book as I always wanted it to be! Each book is numbered individually. You will also be named (if you choose) as a contributor to the project in the book itself. (This level includes shipping within Ireland. For international backers, please select the $530 level below).
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $500 or more
4 backers
In addition to being named (if you choose) in the Acknowledgements section of the book and receiving your signed and personalised copy, and the e-book, you'll receive a "Masterpiece" size print (30x20") that you can choose from my portfolio. Free global shipping is included. You'll also receive a phone call from me where I'll answer your questions about my photography and the book project, and also give you advice on your own photography.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $530 or more
6 backers
You'll receive the leather-bound special edition of the book. Complete with a linen embossed cover, a beautiful slip case and an enclosed portfolio of 5 archival prints, signed and titled by me, this is the book as I always wanted it to be! Each book is numbered individually. You will also be named (if you choose) as a contributor to the project in the book itself. (This level includes international shipping. For Irish backers, please select the $500 level above).
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
6 backers
You’ll be named (if you choose) in the Ackowledemgents section of the book as a major backer of the project, and you’ll receive your signed and personalised copy and e-book. In addition, I will take you on a one-day photography workshop around the Killarney area. I'll show you some of the locations used in the book as well as other beautiful sights both on and off the beaten track. The workshop can be scheduled at your convenience (travel costs are not included).
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012Pledge $2,500 or more
0 backers
Everything in the $1000 pledge level, plus you can select a canvas printed "Museum" size (60x40"!) print from the gallery to take home, or have shipped to you.
Estimated delivery: Aug 2012
Comments
Creator Michael Crawford on July 12, 2012
Wonderful! Thanks for the update. I hope the drive to and from the printers was scenic and pleasant.