So, here is the journey my book will take, once it arrives at Friesens in Manitoba:
First, of course, it will need paper:
It's this fellow's job to make sure there is plenty on hand:
Next the paper needs to be cut to the appropriate size
(my pages will be 11x8.5)
The paper is fed into this machine and measurements are fed into the computer - the cutting is automatic - just a press of a button (I'd be scared I would input the measurements incorrectly; what a waste of paper that would be!)
This operator has an easy job, although you wouldn't think so. After the sheets are cut, because it is resting on air (just like a hovercraft), all he has to do is just give the stack a little push and it gently floats in any direction.
This next part is not so easy to explain, but I will give it my best lay-person's language:
Somewhere in here :) is the final copy of the book, already typeset by computer. Each of these modules contains a different colour ink, and as the paper travels through each, it picks up the text/photo designated for that particular colour and prints it.
The yellow, red and blue inking modules
Filling the inking barrels
To make a long story short...
...it comes out here!
Ok, so some of you are thinking about the environment --and saying, "let's hear it for the ipad!" when you see all this paper.
I may be old-fashioned, but I can't see me ever being happy curled up on the couch reading on an ipad.
Give me a book, any day.
Well, the next step is to fold all those huge papers (usually around 16 pages on each one, carefully positioned for folding so that they are in the correct order in the book)
So far, so good!
The pages are folded into 'signatures' -- a set number of pages in each.
If you pick up a book right now, and look at the top of the spine, you will see the signatures
Next comes the cover...
This, of course, is a hard cover -- with white 'end pages'
Lovely gold embossing for the title.
This young man is doing something special to the cover
that will give it this kind of beautiful raised, 3-D effect
(no, mine won't have all these fancy things!)
By now it was time for a bit of a rest. Although it's hard to show, this printing facility covers, what seems anyway, miles -- lots of walking!
That's a lotta paper!
It was great to see that they are so dilligent about recycling. They gave us statistics, but unfortunately I didn't keep track.
Can't show you the finished product yet, of course, not due out until April 1st --
but won't it be awesome when the cover graces this wall, along with the rest of Friesens' masterpieces!
Can't wait!
Wow! This is so exciting! How wonderful that you had the opportunity to see how it was all done. x
ReplyDeleteVery interesting blog. They gave you a very thorough tour and as Chris says, treated you very well.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry about paper use, it really does grow on trees and the kind of trees they use are only grown to produce paper, so more paper being used means more trees are grown. The ipad uses much more energy to be made than a whole lot of books and will be obsolete in a couple of years and you will need to buy a new 'i' thing to replace it, whilst your books will last for hundreds of years.
PS. have you lost weight since I last saw you?
ReplyDeleteI thought I left a comment last night but it has not appeared.
ReplyDeleteJust to say what an interesting trip and you don’t need to worry about using paper - it really does grow on trees - and the trees would not be grown if it was not for the paper industry. So more paper being used means more trees.
ipads cost a lot of energy and pollution to make and only last as long as the manufacturers think they should. You then have to buy a new kind of ‘i’ thing and replace all your downloaded books because the old ones won’t work….. Paper lasts for centuries without any need to upgrade.
Oh, Snafu -- you are a man after my own heart! Thank you for that encouraging word. I have friends who say that books will become virtually extinct before long. I'd be pretty heartbroken about that (if I was to be still around to witness it). The other thing about ipads, I guess, is that if the technology somehow breaks down, then we are all up the creek without a paddle (or a book). Like you say, books/paper last forever!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Your comments went into spam for some reason. Re: your P.S. Yes, a little!
Elizabeth, it was an exhilarating feeling to be there at Friesens - and they made us feel so welcome and appreciated, even though we are "small fry" compared to most of their customers.
What a journey and so interesting! Still, I like the photos of you and DOTH best! I love snafu's comment! Good for him.
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