Friday, 1 April 2016

Digital Letterpress - COP Quotes for Content, Reasoning & Visual Scamps

Digital Letterpress - COP Quotes for Content, Reasoning & Visual Scamps 

To work alongside the further contextual research gathered as an essay/COP expansion of the points in this post quotes for the content and reasoning for visual developments have been gathered to begin figuring out how to visually interpret the essay quotes, the message there sending and application of all the research and ideas into the defined concept. 

The whole body of texts wont necessarily be used, the main focus is to create a visual representation of these quotes. Maybe providing small sections of the quote to further add context and meaning. 

Quotes/ Scamps/Visual plan

The starting point should be how the posters link too the COP reasonings. Then figure out how it all goes together so it all makes sense and follows an order that can be engaged with and understood easily. 

Content
The introduction of the Johannes Guttenberg’s revolutionary printing press was coined in Germany during the period through the 1440’s and 50s and began to develop the mass communication of information through the distribution of religious beliefs through the printing of the 42 line Bible during the Gutenberg revolution. Buick’s confirms this as an introduction of efficient distribution using the technology of movable type. 

Reasoning & Plan
Show a transition from this key period, use religious connotations, content from the bible, blackletter type maybe? Use the idea of moveable type as a key aspect for the layout, the choice of this quote will act as a starting point to base all other visuals from as this was the starting point for mass communication. 

Content
Eric Gills (2013, p.23) investigations into how ‘Letters are signs for sounds’ provide a starting point for the basic introduction of communication of western language and information that predates the Gutenberg revolution. It could be argued that the first visual language wasn’t alphabetic though, these signs were hieroglyphic cryptograms distributed through carvings due to the limited tools available during the 3500BC Period. Another limiting factor was how this information could be distributed to the mass’s. 

Reasoning & Plan
The use of words within this quote have potential for carrying strong visual connotations and theres aspects I can take from it too add context too the visuals like the date and connotations of hieroglyphics. 

Content
Serif’s are an iconic aesthetic taken from stone carvings and are often said to be aid legibility and readability of information as the eye can follow the serif points from glyph to glyph in a ergonomic manner. These serifs are replicated with ‘thick and thin strokes’ with a continuous brush, while with early pen’s three separate strokes are made of varying weights and where seen as key developments of fifteenth and sixteenth century inscription’s 

Reasoning & Plan
The use of weight could add a strong visual reference, while individual details inspired by serifs could add a contrast too these visuals while the idea of legibility and reliability could create some nice visual contrasts as well.  

Content
Come 1889 Monotype had created a machine which could be seen as a key development to the introduction of Cyberspace technologies allowing the operator to type out text and have it be mechanically set as opposed to hand set. The ability to remove a single line of type meant not having to go through the painstaking process of resetting lines of type, it was a key movement that benefited the book trade and distribution of newspapers no end through both speed and economy. 

Reasoning & Plan
The idea of hand type setting and from individual blocks to lines has very tactile aesthetics that could be visual interpreted, maybe explore squares and rectangles in varied compositions to create an industrial and robust feel that supports the idea of mechanical. 

Content
These introduction of efficient printing systems paved a way for a rapid growth and development of electronic printing from the introduction of Xerography in 1938 to the introduction of laser printing in 1969 and digital printing in 1993 electricity began ‘invading the world of typography, and it means a total revolution’ (McLuhan, 1995, p.293) in terms of old print based technologies changing the way information was printed from a physical punch cut metal type family touching the paper to the reproduction of easy accessed digital typefaces transferred through dry and wet ink using toners, ink transfers and accurate halftone transfers as technology developed. These printing methods developed into easy to access pieces of technology available in households and offices, which lead to the development of easier to access digital type families as opposed to expensive and un-ergonomically stored physical type families resulting in the rise of desktop publishing which lead to the decline of the need for specialist publishing suggesting that the introduction of these technologies has killed specialist crafts.  

Reasoning & Plan
This allows me to repurpose the digital letterpress prints with digital variations to show a transition point and contrast the both showing the qualities and limitations of both. 

Content
Text messaging began changing the way people convey messages, abbreviations of communications from fully written words to shorthand variations provided quicker modes of dialogue as a reaction to societies fast paced lifestyles. 

As phone technologies developed so did the capabilities of SMS communications, the introduction of emojis arrived from the textual ‘faces’ using glyphs and punctuation marks to create simple faces to convey emotion. 


Shigetaka Kurita developed the first emoji prototypes in 1999 as a means of making the most of limited textual space, the original intention was to communicate emotion through a pictorial reference, further suggesting how the development of technologies has developed how language is communicated through more precise and concise visual systems. 

Reasoning & Plan
This allows me too fully explore how visuals can be made from type, changing the purpose of type from communicative to visual, support this with more visual iconography to add context while add conversation quotes to show dialogue. Maybe show the dilution of conversation due to the increase of texting, abbreviations and short hands for example. 

Content
Buicks (1991, p.74) analyze on the purpose of a computer system suggest that we as a society ‘have an insatiable desire to organize, analyze and communicate what we know. The most powerful tool ever invented for doing all of these things is the computer’ this could be closely compared to how lettering was a way of communicating and visualizing the spoken word and how typography was a development of this visualization into an organized system. The introduction of the computer will always be seen as one of the most iconic developments when it comes to other methods of mass communication and is a transitional turning point for how typography is both created and distributed as the main focus was now not only for print and physical media but also for screen based outputs with the introduction of the internet and email operating as a transition from the physicality of telephone communications to something more suited to the term cyberspace as a means of offering dialogue and access to information equivalent to millions of physical books at the tip of the end users finger tips.  

Reasoning & Plan
Ideas of organisation suggest ideas of structured layouts, especially since it mentions the introduction of computers as a tool so literal and visual grids could be made. The use of quotes could reference language as a means of symbolising the spoken word and elements relating to telephone communications as a transition point for the development and organization of a typographic system. Place typographic references of the internet like www. to show how this is the end point of instant access of an unlimited source of information. 

Content
While this is very idealistic at this time there are a number of future oriented technologies already in successful circulation and developing for more domesticated uses, 3D printing is a technology that has been around for a while now since the mid 80s having been used for manufacturing. Recently though Lipson argues ‘3D printing technology has been driven rapidly forward by advances in computing power, new design software, new materials, and the rocket fuel of innovation, the internet’ (2013, p.11) in terms of its impact of communication itself it doesn’t hold too much hope but the way its developed so well is completely down to cyberspace technologies that where created for the development of mass communication. The most influential been the Internet, computers and design software. 



We approach our physical environment with new expectations of malleable form, responsive surfaces and connected behaviour. The rise of technological production processes such as 3D printing and generative design only accelerates the process of slippage and cross contamination between digital and physical forms. (Openshaw, 2015, p.184) 

Reasoning & Plan
Theres no limitations here when it comes too what I produce, exploring something 3D as a progression point means I can explore all digital design process's that lead up too 3D technologies, so a multitude of process's could be used to create an overall 3D effect, maybe layering of simple shapes to show the build up of material seen in 3D printing while showing impact of design software by using preset gradients and such. 

Content
Human beings have always used technology to enhance communication and feel part of something greater and more meaningful than they experience alone – the belief in a collective unconscious, or at least a shared dream, doesn’t go away. (Buick, 1991, p.17) 

Content

In general, modern technologies increase the possibility and likelihood of detaching communication (message transmission or exchange) from any social basis. 

Reasoning & Plan
Show the progression of these ease of communication and lost connections as a limitation and problem of technology. The dilution of dialogue through texting for example or kids not enjoying the outdoors anymore or speaking in person instead just speaking over facebook. 

Content
People don’t have time to sift through physical bodies of information like in newspapers and books when more cold medias offered from Internet and cyberspace sources can offer a quick fix of information through minimal engagement using visual and audio gestures.  

Reasoning & Plan
Show the background of a mass of information with the foreground showing something that communicates it all that requires minimal engagment eg a film. How to show the communication aspect of the film into a physical delivery? Film script and VHS maybe?

Content
These investigations into communicative methods within logo considerations compare to the development of type design as it developed as a system of well-drawn and organized letterforms that communicated spoken language in easy to digest ways before the introduction of specific typographic systems. The main purpose of a logo is to create an instant identification of a brand ‘Word based logos are seldom read as text in the way that this text is read. If a logo is visible enough language ceased to be an issue.’ (Evanmy, 2007, p.23) 

Content

All these elements from the logotype to the application of typography on physical and digital media all need to carry the brand mantra, which in essence is the overall voice of the brand and at its core doesn’t depends on technology. Its what’s communicated through word of mouth, a communication method that predates typography and was the main method of communicating information before technological developments arose giving birth to the physical printed distribution of information.  

Reasoning & Plan
Use shape as a way of condensing down the idea that text is often seen not read, suggesting a universal language due to language not been an issue within instantly recognised logotypes. A simple shape would show a clean universal communication of something in an organized way. While a shape has physical presecnce to support the idea of printed distributions. 

Content
This merge between the physical to digital while making use of innovation suggests that there ‘Font technology makes text look as sharp in pixels as it does on paper’ (Monotype, 2015) this statement within there strategy shows how they want to maintain focus on there traditional routes that started out with paper and ink printing but really make use of technological innovations available. This merge and repurposing of traditional principles within digital formats relates well to the rise of eBooks and the instant access to thousands and thousands of books at the tip of your fingers thanks to the cyberspace distributions like the internet. 

Reasoning & Plan
The quote mentioning fonts been made to look sharp in pixels on paper allows a visual representation of this to be applied, using digital programs to recreate an idea of screen based visuals output within paper and ink. The idea of the eBook could be referenced through PDF registration marks to reference universal screen file formats that can be read on screen or repurposed into a printed book. 

Content
To conclude on the impact of technology and its relationship with type an abstract comparison with the progression of music ownership and distribution will be made. The journey typography went through from the spoken word to typographic systems, to physically owned repeatable type systems with attention to tactile quality and characteristics, between physical type to the monotone characteristics and accepted oversaturation of digital typography choices relates perfectly too the transition of how music went from been a performance to organized crowds much like the distribution of news and information in Greek Auditoriums to been recorded on physical medias to the rise of MP3’s and downloads to the current streaming boom. Openshaw backs up this argument in his discussions on the future of media. 

Reasoning & Plan
The main concept of this whole publication and its physical delivery stems from elements of this quotes based on ideas of physical ownership to streamed files, by using the music as a visual cue point a clear connotation can be made of this transition through the idea of live music too Spotify that can run paralel to the spoken word introduction too streamed fonts like monotype sky-fonts. 

Large Format Poster
Content
Variations of newspapers were around before the introduction of printing press’s which could be seen as the main uses of these proficient technologies, during 713 and 734 the Chinese Tang Dynasty published government news using handwritten script typography on silk. 

Reasoning & Plan
Maybe create a larger poster from this as an expansion, create 1 that uses the dates and chinese glyphs and screenshots of multi cultural news websites as a technological transition. And a larger one of a digital newspaper repurposed in a traditional format. 

Format & Delivery
It has already been decided the use of a type tray will hold the publication and usb to show a full transition of physical storage too streamed and digital storages. The format of the publication will be made of 3 main elements as mentioned, a zine, a set of letterpress and digital posters, and a book with COP content figuring out how it is constructed is the key element now. 

Explore raw edge bind from a perfect bind, no cover just stitching.

Use bolts for that robust industrial feel to transition the idea of the industrial revolution during the Gutenberg. 

Have a sleeve for the posters to act as method of preservation.

Line the base of the letterpress tray with digitally printed fabric too add that feeling of quality of the physical letterpress blocks and publication overall, something that is lost with the over-saturation of mass amounts of mediocre typefaces. COP expansion. 

Using an X band to collate all posters together.

Does the zine act as a separate entity or be fixed too the book to show how the context's link?

Use A5 zine, B5 book and A4 prints, all dont go over A4 size to show the potentials of at home publishing and production. 

Staple bind adds DIY feel, expand on this with a comb bind.

Or Arco clips this also supports the DIY feel. 

Perforated posters fixed within the publication to add an extra element of engagement to reference the hands on process of letterpress. 


Technology Limitation Zine
The zine will be a DIY printed and produced publication to show the rise of desktop publishing and distribution, and will investigate the potentials, limitations and issues within the introduction of technology. This idea of technology will be one of the pinnacle elements of the whole publication for other elements to contrast off and work alongside the COP content. 

Key aspects too investigate as an expansion of my COP and an extension of controlling the aesthetic of a technology investigation proposed in the monotype brief;

Create a glitch aesthetic through image manipulation and type layout.

Piracy & Copyright.

Pixelation to show the transition from print to screen working from a quote in my essay mentioning there focus is to create a link between print clarity in pixel based screen fonts. 

Readability & Legibility as a form of showing the transition between hand rendered to digital typesetting.

Distortion through the idea of scanning and the alteration of documents through date invasion. 

From screen to print to be represented through tactile patterns too ideas of clarity on screen.

Privacy invasion, how security of files can be bi-passed and personal information stolen. 

From the letterpress too qwerty keyboards, from something 3D and tactile to something flat and digital and empty in terms of physical content. 

Print the internet, maybe print the code from google. The pinnacle of ease of access and distribution of all information where even old physical book content can be found from scanned in sources. 

Visual ideas to represent these
Deconstruct a number of glyphs with each element showing a certain limitation like pixelation effect too structured too fluid layout possibilities. 

Randomisation to show the unpredictability of technology at times.

Show letterpress restrictions on one side with a centre justified neat alignment then on the other side deconstructed rotated and warped type to show the inclusion of technology. 

Do some hand rendering to 3D rendering to show a visual representation of each process. 

Use 2 key typeface choices to show a clear link between the transition of typography and traditional and contemporary connotations. A black letter to reference the Gutenberg and a screen friendly sans serif to reference the digital era. 

Create a type specimen, redesign a whole typeface, a repurposed blackletter applying all the above technological limitations and potentials. 

Use circles and squares to show a simple representation of screen and print. 

To show privacy use solid black shapes and opacity to show the blocking and revealing of information. 

Use text edit to manipulate jpeg images. 

Use the liquify tool to make type elements illegible and give them connotations of hand rendering. 

Keep zooming in and doing screen shot to show loss of resolution. 

Use the copy right symbol as a central visual reference to piracy, with the repetition of piracy supporting the idea of copying and distribution of information.

Use a visual grid using lines and boxes as a reference to type trays and act as a consistent base for type and image to be applied too. 

Fold, screw up or warp paper with the scanner to show distortion and invasion of information, invasion has a very tactile hands on connotation so this process suits. 

From ABC to QWERTY, a simple connotation of the transition of laborious type setting to simple keyboard use. 

The repeated 1010101 binary code, manipulates with the liquify tool to show the invasion of data as binary is the main security of encrypted files. Break up these images to show further elements of decryption. 

Create vector 3D glyphs to show the influence of digital technology but reference pastiche of physical letterpress blocks when transitioning too qwerty ideas while adding alternative angled layouts of type and contrasting tone to show this transition and rejection of layout and type restrictions through technology. 

COP Context Book
All the book will be doing is carrying content, so a focus needs to be made on how effective it communicates the information, the binding technique and type layout needs to reference traditional values while some visual elements need to show the potential of digital.

Highlight key words to link with the posters as digital reference to link these 2 physical elements together. 

As a form of showing physical scanned in pages create a black frame around a few pages to show this physical to digital transition, these could also act as visual cues for the start of new chapters for ease of navigation. 

2 column grid to reference the Gutenberg bible printing.

Modular grid to reference digital layout and pixels. 

Large folio numbers and a large content system too add that robust feel and ease of navigation to create clear links when people are engaging with the publication, there needs to be a clear link between the visual posters and the context.

Highlight words using superscript, offsetting them off the baseline or x-height to highlight key words that have visual posters attached too them. 

Use simple boxes around headers to reference letterpress frame furniture. 

Centre justified to show typical wood block alignments influenced by Anthony Burill.

Label each document, there will be 3 key elements use A B C as reference points and link with connotations of the alphabet, the organised system for typography turning it from the spoken word into an organised system.

Use roman numeral chapter and folio system to reference traditional pre Gutenberg hand rendered roman publications. 

Front Cover
The name process represents the idea that this is a document that explores a process from its origins too its current state and future potentials, I want the cover to feel quite deconstructed as the point is for the contents to piece together as a whole. To show individual investigations that aim to address an overall issue. 

Have a short explanation of the content on the front cover, to act as an introduction?

Use arrows to connote a journey to support the dates presented on the document.

Use semi translucent material, too add a feeling of engagement to whole document, allowing a snapshot of the content too be seen ready too be unpicked. 

Use simple line and shape to reflect letterpress furniture while angled type alignment show a digital type set advantage. A simple clean contrast of 2 disciplines acting as a preview of the contents inside. 

As the document will be contained in a type tray use the visual grid influenced by these trays as the front cover. 

EXPAND ON THE IDEA OF PROCESS FOR FINAL SHOW, SHOWING A TRANSITION OF ANOTHER PROCESS MAYBE. MAYBE FOCUS ON POSTERS AND THERE HISTORIC JOURNEY AND CHANGING PURPOSE THROUGH THE USE OF TYPE & IMAGE AS A COMMUNICATIVE METHOD TO KEEP THE LINK WITH COP. 

No comments:

Post a Comment