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a page in history
A Review by Fred Showker
Revolutions happen quickly, and revolutions happen slowly. I'll never forget the look on people's faces when presented with their first print on a laserprinter. Until then, they were all quite content with their desktop computers and ribon-based, strike on impact prints and that was that. But when they saw beautifully scaled and smoothed type, and highly detailed drawings and art they were swept away with the possibilities. None thought about a revolution. None thought about turning a page in history. It was simply a fabulous new gizmo for those who could afford it and that was that.
It took Johannes Gutenberg's revolution several hundred years to happen. But in 1982, John Warnock and Chuck Geschke started their revolution and put it into overdrive. They were so frustrated with the current state of technology, they formed their own business which would, introduce a computer language that would describe to the electronic printer how to image fine photography, how to render and scale the finest nuances of typography. Postscript fulfilled the promise and Adobe delivered it to thousands then hundreds of thousands... then millions of anxious participants.
Douglas Holleley noticed this revolution -- and like so many others, became enthralled in the new capabilities and processes that the digital revolution made possible. However he was one of those who did not turn his back on history, tradition, and the importance of the printed word.
Holleley's new book Digital Book Design & Publishing is a masterful vision that brings together all the elements of the new digital technologies into a resource for photographers, artists, authors, historians, teachers and anyone who would like to see their information made into a single document.
In today's world, it is really quite remarkable how people have come to equate publishing with perishable.
Book publishers today have trimmed the "product life" of most books down to within a year. If it hasn't sold a million by then, it is off the shelves. Holleley has a different point of view:
"It is really quite remarkable how long paper lasts" |
Each phase of developing, producing and assembling a book using currently available technology -- to move beyond the manuscript to the printed page. You'll be well exposed to Photoshop and Quark XPress and well as the plethora of elements from printing to bookbinding. You'll start with an understanding of the nature of the book and the process of design. You'll venture through typography and page layout. You'll acquire images, scan them, correct them and ultimately deploy them. Then you'll travel over the drums and through the rollers of the printing presses, into the bindery and ultimately to a finished product. The step-by-step guide even includes orientation and background on computers, copyright and publishing law.
Whether your book becomes a mass produced best seller, or a hand-made, one-of-a-kind art treasure Holleley's Digital Book will help you make it happen. I recommend the book to anyone with an appreciation for the published word. I also feel strongly it is an important book for educators. College and University level graphic design, printing, publishing and even journalism curricula planners should seriously consider integrating this book into their plan. As a university instructor myself, I can see this as an important part of any visual art and literary foundation program. It will arm those freshmen with a superior breadth of understanding in preparation for the higher level courses.
We give Douglas an enthusiastic thumbs up not only for the masterful handling of the subject matter, but for the wonderful array of visuals, photographs and illustrations in this superbly designed, typeset and printed work. You will not be disappointed.
Digital Book Design & Publishing
by Douglas Holleley
Paperback: 294 pages, Publisher: Clarellen
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