Changing Illustrations

Way back when in the Movable Books post, I came across changing illustrations. I figured out how to do this on my foundation course; it is essentially just 2 sets of overlapping tabs. The application is obvious: People will interact with the illustration in order to make it change into the next one.

Puncturing

Puncturing the paper (in this instance with a sewing needle) creates a surprisingly noticeable effect. It looks great when then placed over a dark background, but looks amazing when held up to a light. It is possible to create a sort of "shading", using different sized holes at different spacing.

Pop-Up

Layers and Paper Cuts

 

1. Pull-out peep show - The viewer can look through the peep hole to reveal many layers of a scene, almost making it 3D. It can be squashed down flat.

2. Paper cuts - Can be very intricate and detailed. Layered papercuts work very well, as in the peacock piece.

3. Layers and light - obviously, the more layers there are the less the light shines through.

Embossing

 

I was surprised at how much detail it is possible to achieve with a simple cheap embossing tool. Lettering is no problem for it, I even tried embossing from an old piece of letterpress (the letter E, bottom of the top picture). I think my favourite result has got to be the pocket watch (second from bottom).

The thicker the paper, the harder it is to get the detail showing through. For the bottom picture, I was using 300gsm. I found that the side pressed to the surface gets a better result than the other side, if you press really hard with the tool. Like, reverse embossing.

I also tried it on handmade paper, which did not work at all.

This method could be great for adding textures, or little hidden elements in illustrations.

Paper Toy

A quick paper toy I made of a zombie using a very simple net - essentially just a cube, with an opening mouth. I definitely want to make some paper toys in this project. This particular one was originally created as a self promotion idea, which I still think is a good idea. Any that I make for this project could have a double agenda, and also be used for self promotion with my details written on the underside, as they are on this one.

An illustration becoming 3D from 2D changes the way people think about it, especially if it is a process they went through themselves, as with paper toys. The nets are handed out or printed on paper, and the recipient, not the illustrator/designer, makes the final product.

All Shapes and Sizes

Different sizes and proportions of a book can change the illustrations within or the function or audience of the book itself.
Could have tall and thin books or short and fat books. Each would change the shape of the illustrations and what you could show in them. For example if the story was about a giant, a tall and thin book would easily show the whole giant, while a short and fat (landscape, basically) book might only show the giant's feet.

Children's books are often over-sized. However, Beatrix Potter's books were often tiny - for tiny hands.
An earlier post inspired me to make a series of matchbox-sized books.
If I was to make a very tiny book, I could make tiny illustrations that the viewer would need a magnifying glass to see properly. Would be fun!

Also consider shaped books - different constraints to the regular 4 sided shape.

Concertina Book

Good for continuous illustrations, series' of sinlge images and comics. Can see all the images at once if you so wish. Good for showing things growing. 2 sided - two different but linked stories? Two perspectives on one story?

Landscape Books

Obviously good for landscapes! Or comics... Having a landscape format can completely change the composition of an image. Long images rather than tall images.

"Magic" Book

From THIS POST: (click)
"...a book that when opened continues to fold back on itself until it becomes flat again. Then, what was once the spine can be opened to reveal "more than two" double page spreads. I think I have been successful in figuring out how to make this book from that description; Something along the lines of a Jacob's ladder. Obviously this would open up amazing opportunities for illustrations!"

Based on the principle of a Jacob's ladder. Obviously the paper strips would cover exactly a third of the book in the 'real thing'. Sections of each illustration become covered with the paper strips or revealed, therefore sections can be changed, as if by magic!

Crown Binding

I figured out this method of bookbinding from a picture. The pages are 'loose', and only held in by a couple of folds of paper from the spine. This means they can 'pop out' and be put back in in a different order or replaced entirely. Fantastic for interactivity.
Could have a story that can be re-arranged and still make sense.
Could have little 3D scenes or fold-out items that pop out to create a world - the book and spine simply act as packaging.

Pages Bigger Than Their Books

Double page spreads can be folded out to two or three (or more) times their bound size, resulting in hidden portions of a larger overall illustration. The pages can be unfolded to reveal the illustration underneath. The proportions bring to mind height, or depth. If there are multiple bits to unfold, it could work somewhat like a piece of paper-mation. The first illustration is hidden completely with the first unfolding, revealing a second. Half of that illustration is hidden with the next unfolding, revealing more. A third of that illustration is hidden, and double that size revealed with another unfolding, and so on. Could be great for something flying or sinking.

Books Folded From A Single Sheet Of Paper

These books can perform two functions - both a book and a larger single image or poster. Cheap, easy and quick to make. Great for self promotional things.

The first method creates 8 pages, including front and back.
Steps:

Fold an A4 piece of paper in half vertically. Unfold.
Fold it in half horizontally, and fold it in half again the same way. Unfold.
Cut down the middle, so that it is essentially a 'loop' of paper.
Fold into a book.

The second method creates 14 pages, including front and back.

Steps:

Fold an A4 piece of paper into thirds, vertically. Unfold.
Fold it in half and in half again horizontally. Unfold.
Holding it horizontally, cut along the top crease from the left to 1 square in from the right.
Cut the bottom crease from the right to 1 square in from the left.
Fold into a book.

Proposed Experiments

• Scale - both large and tiny books / single images
• Landscape vs portrait
• Crown binding
• Concertina books
• Pages can can fold out bigger than the book
• Shaped books
• 'Magic' book
• Pop-up
• Changing illustrations
• Wheels, doors, etc. Interactivity.
• Pop-out rooms - paper doll house.
• Paper dolls
• Movable puppets
• Shadow puppets
• Tattoo paper
• Embossing
• Layers
• Translucency
• Puncturing
• 3D models
• Papertoys
• Origami
• Play with light
• Cam systems
• Pull-out peep shows
• Papermation
• Quilling

And anything else I think of to be added...

Research Summary

• I need to think about the paper I'm using, from gsm to cardboard to unusual papers...
• ...Like temporary tattoo paper!
• Papertoys are amazing and I want to make lots. Also maybe good self promo?
• Papertoys can use the same base, but coloured and inked differently to produce different characters in the same shape.
• Pepakura software can help to create complex 3D models.
• Try puncturing the paper...
• ...Or embossing...
• ...Or quilling.
• Think about lighting - can shine through papers.
• Also think about translucency - tracing paper and vellum?
• Papercuts can look amazing, and don't have to use just one colour.
• Try layering papercuts.
• Pop-ups can be both simple and complex, but always look awesome.
• Paper can be glued to create 3D models like the clockwork birds.
• Paper can be both embossed and layered or glued to create almost 3D illustrations, or actual sculptures.
• A similar effect can be created with layers.
• Niroot Puttapipat changes the colours on each of his layers to great effect
• If enough layers are put together they can create the impression of a 3D object (Scott Campbell's money)...
• ... Or create an actual free-standing 3D object (Sigrid Spier).
• Play with scale.
• Sometimes really simple things work wonders (cut paper for fish kites to fly when blown)
• Paper-clay exists.
• Sculptures can be made of washi paper.
• Origami can be 'softened' to create really amazing figures.
• Illustrations can change 'magically' with a pull tab.
• Pull out peep shows!
• It's possible to make a cam system that actually works, all from paper.
• Joints can make amazing movable puppets...
• ...And shadow puppets.
• Cuts in paper can be used to reveal (or cover up) segments of the next (or last) illustration.
• Simple slots can make something 2D 3D.
• Papermation! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S62pw1AAhMc

Paper-mation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S62pw1AAhMc


An amazing piece of 'animation', created by flipping pieces of paper. With each turn, the previous figure is covered up and replaced by the next pose in the movement.

Pepakura

http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/

This software converts 3D digital models into nets to be printed, cut out and folded into complex papertoys. Could come in VERY handy if I ever learn to adequately use a 3D modelling software...

Brian Castleforte (Paper Toys)

Madeleine Rogers (Paper Toys)

Aurore Damante (Paper Toys)

Paper Toys!

Paper toys are becoming more and more popular over the internet. People can find or create a blank shape that can have different designs by different people impose donto it, and some are completely unique. Some have moving parts or accessories, some are simple, some are complex. Generally, they are free to download so that they can be printed and made by any one. I definitely want to make some paper toys.

 

 

 

 

Jacob Dahlstrup Jensen

Tattooed paper!! I should try puncturing as a technique.