2009 Losing Ground digital and traditional bookmaking

Using digital technology to handcraft an artist book, Losing Ground

Images from many series of Krause work, including two using photographs by Viola Käumlen, were collaged in Adobe Photoshop into 12” x 12” double page spreads. The text, selected from the publications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was made a part of the images using the appropriately named font, “Dirty Ego” by Eduardo Recife.

Two editions of Losing Ground were printed by Acme Bookbinding with the HP Indigo press 5500 on Mohawk Options 65# cover made from 100% post consumer content.

A limited edition was bound in a black Brillianta by Acme and a deluxe edition of 6 was bound in aubergine Nigerian goat by Harcourt Bindery, the nation’s premier hand bindery since 1900, which is now a part of Acme.

Details printed on vellum, silver and photo gloss papers were tipped into the book. Graphite, colored pencils, markers, metallic pigments and gold leaf were used to add texture and reflectivity. Mylar stencils were cut by Universal Laser Systems to facilitate the application of embossing powder and leaf. Images of each of the pages can be seen by clicking here.

An embossed 8” x 8” copper title plate was made by MC Embossing. It was patinaed then inset into a debossed area on the covers of both the limited and deluxe editions. The black Brillianta boxes for the limited edition were made with the assistance of Mary McCarthy and Mary Taylor. The deluxe edition boxes of gold bookcloth were made by Harcourt Bindery. In addition to the 12” x 12”, 44 page limited and deluxe editions, a 7” x 7” softcover open edition in available online from Blurb. Additional information and a Losing Ground page-turning flipbook showing the individual pages can be found by clicking on the image below.