Puppets

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...