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LOOKING AT THE WORLD OF BOOK PRODUCTION

AS LONG AS A LORRY

A few months ago we were allowed to take photos inside the Nicholson & Bass Ltd printing factory at Mallusk to show you how the No-one Likes a Fox children’s story book was produced.

Some of their machines are as long as a lorry.

When they start up its time to cover your ears

FROM WORDS & PICTURES TO PRINTING THE BOOK

Computer to plate system The designer gets the final artwork for the ‘Noone likes a fox’ book as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file sent to him by email. A final proof for approval is produced and checked for errors. When passed for print the words and images are transferred onto large thin rectangular printing plates using a computer to plate system (C.T.P. for short).

Chemicals develop the pictures a bit like the way photos are done except onto metal instead of paper. When these plates are dry they are wrapped around the cylinders of the printing machine. The ink will only stick to certain parts of the plate.

CTP machine

Paper and card is usually cut to size in advance of a job being done. This preparation speeds things up.

Getting it right Inks are mixed and test copies are printed to check for good ink flow and if the colours are correct before the main printing gets underway.

Calibration

Keeping an eye on things With the help of computerised equipment a printer can monitor his progress and things such as ink flow and how many pages are left to be printed.

Folding and finishing When the job is dry the pages need to be folded bound and cut to size.

Here are a few photos of the machines used for that part.

Folding / booklet binding machine

The computerised machine that cuts the paper uses laser sensors to prevent injury to its operators.

Special thanks We would like to thank the staff and management of Nicholson Bass Ltd. for allowing us into their busy factory.

THE CRITICAL SPIDER you send for superman not the baby jesus!

everyone knows if you want to save the world

Listen to this preacher - he must be thick!

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He speaks before he thinks and isn’t afraid to offend!

A new comic strip (designed to be thought provoking) is available on the Redgreen Publishing website.

As you may have guessed from the title of this comic strip he lives in a church, but not because he wants to get close to God! This selfish, critical spider has a general dislike for anything related to Christianity. He freely dishes out large helpings of sarcasm and mockery. He loves to point the finger (leg) at people who don’t live up to his high standards (which is pretty much everyone).

not once does the preacher talk about

that christmas story can’t be true

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santa or his reindeers

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NEW BOOK SNEAK PREVIEW The Snailiens are coming!

Here are a few rough sketches showing the very early preparation stages of a new book that is being written about alien snails from the planet Escargot. Without giving too much of the story away... these snails (who have arms and legs and are the height of human beings) shrink themselves and secretly come to earth in search of dandelions to eat The battle that follows becomes known as Flower Wars. Top right picture shows an early t-shirt design that was given out as prizes in a school competition.

Traditional story or comic book The layout of the book is undecided but it probably will be more of a comic book style than the traditional picture book layout.

Body colour The snailien body colour is undecided - we may use two different colours, one for male and one for female. Or it may be that the snailien can change it’s body colour to match its surroundings in the same way a cameleon can.

Possible cover?

Shrinking

The size, and shape of the book are undecided.

The title may also change.

The story is about invading alien snails but the threat is not to humans - it’s certain garden flowers they are after!

The basic story line has been tested at a cartoon and story telling workshop held in a local Primary school. The response has been good with both boys and girls giving it their approval.

EPISODE 1

Flying saucers?

There will be no flying saucers, ray guns or human abductions in this story - in fact you should be surprised (in a good way) when you see what is inside.

visit the redgreen publishing website to find out more about new books

MARTIN KENNY DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION

Graphic Designer/ Illustrator BA (Hons) DESIGN SPECIALISING IN: ILLUSTRATION & CARTOONS

Follow me on Facebook: Martin Kenny Artwork

028 9050 4575

www.martinkenny.co.uk / info@martinkenny.co.uk