White ink on a clear jacket finishes off this exposed Smyth sewn book like nothing else could.
The Rare with Google initiative began with a simple, but daunting question: “How might the world’s largest tech company help change the face of a notoriously homogenous creative industry?” This unique Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program was produced by experiential design studio Semi-Permanent with a punk-inspired visual identity created by MAUD. Consisting of talks, workshops, mentorship opportunities and research projects Rare was intended to increase DEI initiatives both internally at Google and in the creative industries at large. Of the plethora of physical and digital assets created to support the program, DATAGRAPHIC was asked to produce this striking exposed Smyth sewn book.
What exactly is an exposed Smyth sewn book?
While the bulk of this project consisted of a somewhat typical Smyth sewn book, the binding was meant to remain exposed. Anyone who has spent time on social media has probably seen exposed Smyth sewn books as a design trend. These books’ edges are not wrapped with a hard or soft cover, but intentionally left uncovered so that the stitching and glue are bare to the touch.
Yes, but can we print white ink on the clear plastic dust jacket for our exposed Smyth sewn book?
For the Rare with Google book, we were asked to print white ink onto a clear plastic dust jacket that would seal the bound edges while leaving them plainly visible. This process laid bare was befitting of the punk/DIY aesthetic that carried out across all of the Rare with Google program assets. While a few processes exist for printing white ink onto a clear substrate, nothing can quite compare to the bold opacity and tactile nature of screen printing.
The clear dust jacket overlaid a 130# Colorplan Lockwood Green cover stock printed in black that created a visually striking interplay with the bright white screen printed ink. The interior pages were digitally printed on our HP Indigo press 4/4 and sewn into signatures for later binding.
The resulting books were truly special objects that felt important and meaningful, which served the spirit of the Rare with Google program.
Exposed Smyth Sewn Book Specs
Printing: Dust Jacket: Screen printing 1/0 white; Cover: print 1/1 black; Text: HP Indigo digital printing 4/4
Stock: Dust Jacket: 5-point clear plastic; Cover: 130# (350gsm) Colorplan Lockwood Green cover; Text: 100# Mohawk Superfine White Eggshell Text
Finishing: Gather, Smyth sew text with exposed spine. Tip on 2-piece cover. Score dust jacket & affix to book.
Ready to produce your own exposed Smyth sewn book?
Click here to request a quote for an exposed Smyth sewn book. Not sure what materials are best suited for your product? We love collaborating with brands on printing and packaging projects. Our designers can help you source the best materials and finishing options. Call 631-489-6032 today!