Adonis Specimen: Embossing/Debossing

Upon reviewing the cover previously designed for the type specimen, I felt the white cover lacked impact. This led to the decision to make the cover silver to reflect the idea of perspectives and self-image which informs the typeface rather than making a box to house the specimen. Due to the reflective nature of the typographic treatment, I wanted to both emboss and deboss at the same time so that reflected type was debossed and the normal type was embossed. This involved cutting out the word Adonis from greyboard using the laser cutter and then using the cutout letters to reflect the type so that the type could be embossed and debosses at that same time (see figures 1-5). Initially, dry stock was used to see if a clean print could be achieved without wetting the paper and risking wrinkling the cover. Although dry embossing did work the print lacked some definition, as it was suggested by the print technicians that wetting the paper would allow for a more defined print (see figures 6-10). Test prints where conducted too see how defined of a print could be achieved without wrinkling the paper. Due to the thickness (300gsm) and the quality of the paper, limited wrinkling occurred when the stock dried (see figures 11-17). The main issue encountered throughout this process was how to position the plate within the press to both print correctly and on the right side of the paper so a cover could be produced. This was difficult as the word needed to read backwards when placed in the press so once the stock was taken away the print would be correct. This led to multiple test prints being produced as some printed better than others. Also in order to achieve the most defined print the stock needed to be wet and immediately used as if the stock was allowed to dry slightly it became less malleable making the print less defined.  Furthermore upon reviewing the initial prints I realised the plate was narrower than the width of the book which presented an issue as the stock had been pressed down when debossing, creating a line on the cover. Therefore the original plate was extended to fit the size of the book and then reprinted, however this print, printed on the wrong side of the paper and created unwanted lines from the masking tape used to extend the plate. In addition I also experimented by using greyboard to flatten the rest of a previous cover by placing the board over the print and putting it through the press. However this wasn't very successful only pressing the stock slightly, not lining up with the original print.

Therefore a new plate was created at the same width as the specimen and more paper was ordered for further experimentation.

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