The first pass at 9.30am – 4 colour process on Viza Blue, printing by Brian

The second press pass – 10.30am. Mr Gunn makes kicking latté 01

The unprinted stock feeding into the printing press

Cleaned plates post print

The third press pass 11.45am – 4 colour on Kula Cream

The forth press pass 12.45am – a make ready sheet

The fifth press pass 2pm – 4 colour process on Copa Green, change of printer, hello Nathan

The sixth press pass 3pm – a gutsy process black on Copa Green, Mr Gunn makes kicking latté 02.

The seventh press pass sees out the last of the process printing, and two colour with a special mix pms colour awaits, Cadi Lilac of course – 7pm

The eight press pass – 8.15pm

The mixing of the special ink

The ninth press pass on Suni Yellow, the second pms seems to jump from the page – 9pm, 12whopping hours later

The final press pass – 10.15

Home 12.20am, blog post up 1.10am (thanks 6821)

With the rise of digital design out shining interesting printing, it is a treat to spend a day passing press. For the best part of 2010 we have been developing a paper promotion for Optix paper. With of twenty images, 2,500 words, seven colour stocks, seven colours, 5000 metres of ribbon. It is special to see ink hit paper over two days and work with printers who love the idea of making print work on coloured stock. There was a lot of on press adjusting required as coloured stock changes the very nature a desired image, as compared to printing on white paper. The possiblities for making a rich communication using coloured paper has endless of possibilities and effects, one has to have a willingness to experiment a little, do some testing at the studio with colour stock and your laser printer and consult your printer where ever possible.

I hope you have enjoyed a glimpse of being up to one’s elbows in paper and ink, thanks to the crew at Gunn and Taylor for all your elbow grease.

Register your interest in the latest promotion by sending an email optix (at) thecolourcollective (dot) com

In a recent clean up this card by Gallaher + Associates appeared. Over the years we have got much pleasure from this goofy card and it prompted us to question the Christmas card thing, the low communication values put in this process and out of it we have developed a project to roll out of a Christmas card range for order clients and lovers of our work to order in 2009.

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Detail of image by J Geoffry Badner, design by Gallaher + Associates

Detail of image by J Geoffry Badner, design by Gallaher + Associates

G+A Xmas 2004, image by J Geoffry Badner, design by Gallaher + Associates

This Christmas card produced by Gallaher + Associates is one of our all time favourite cards sent to our office which has survived many new year culls.

Produced in 2004, this poor little dog in sheep’s clothing by photographer J Geoffrey Badner, summed up the idea of the silly season. It reminded one of what I loved and learned working with Alan and Andrew at Gallaher + Associates back in 1994 – a belief in the process and strength in producing creative works that are centered around the delivery of a single, evocative, sometimes inspired or provocative image.

Visit Gallaher + Associate here.

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Peace Dove by Studio Pip and Co, 2008

Studio Pip and Co’s greeting cards

Sign up for our Christmas card project

The studio produces a card every year and we are committed to making an impact in very clichéd space. In 2008 the studio produced peace dove, which happened to be one of the most inventive, impactful and inexpensive options that has rolled out of the studio, and we are charged to do it again. We have devised a studio Christmas card project for clients looking for an effective design and production solution. We invite you to join us and make a Christmas card that will blow away the raft of boring cards forever.

For details call 03 9525 9844, production cut off is 15 November 2009.

For some years now Andrew Gunn has been hassling the studio to produce a publication of Andrew’s photographic work.

We were in the middle of producing a printing guide when Andrew said – Printing guide sminting guide, I want tell the story of our love of print with something like this (he was thumbing through and old copy of Funnel, a Nelmes Smith Ashton stab at publishing).

That was eight days ago. An all night session that Thursday night, a pdf, a yes on Friday morning, aweekend of photo prep, artwork was ready Monday, pre-press was approved Thursday, press check 6am Sunday, binding on Monday. Launch on Wednesday (tomorrow) at AGIdeas for the Marina Willer presentation.

Get your copy at the conference! Thanks again to Gunn & Taylor, an amazing effort.

The studio has been madly working with Fringe developing the 2008 festival campaign. There is mostly a new team running the festival, in a new work space — an exciting process of review, scoping all the options and then implementation is in the air.

The campaign this year has been developed around the idea of it being a project, or an event in its own right and we have extensively collaborated with David, Emily, Eloise and Beau to work out what‘s right, right‘s what and wrong rights. It is not your typical designer and client relationship — rather than setting briefs and doing work on computers, it is working out the opportunities and executing how to exploit them. A very nice way to do work.

There is much to show and that will come later. In the meantime enjoy the excellent motion piece developed by Studio XYZ in response to the theme we put in place for Fringe 2007.

The studio is launching a print piece at this year‘s festival, watch this space, as they say, for details.

The studio has been working on new promotional material for a paper called Stephen. The grade has enjoyed some recent changes including — FSC Certification, recycled content upping from 25 to 50%, a new cover weight 330gsm across the range and sexy suite of new white shades — Spicy, Scrambled and Chilled.

So we are madly making images, writing, collaborating and inventing content, like Derek Myna here. Derek, along with other imaginary concoctions, will soon be singing a happy song of the new and always improving ways of Stephen. The new stock is ready to specify now, and promotion materials will be swooping on your studio soon.

Read all about Stephen here

Saxton is one of a few premium papers made in Australia making it a sustainable choice for Australian designers looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their work.

The studio has a new campaign in production in the spirit of getting back to basics and embracing the good life. We have collaborated with Earl Carter, Shara Henderson, Tin and Ed, Edwina White to produce, print and design tools, posters, postcard and notebooks.

Look out for this tree and not far will be some of the studio‘s work.

Visit Spicers, FSC, Earl Carter, Shara Henderson, Tin & Ed, and Edwina White here.

We came up with the desk box idea — everyone has a desk and often needs a place for knick knacks, CDs and bits. We played around with metallic, black and white inks, there are four kinds of boxes, so keep an ear out for when your next Spicers person is in the studio. They might very well have box or two for you. We did the thinking and image making, Gunn & Taylor brought the boxes to life in ink and on paper. Thanks again to Spicers for the leap of faith, lovely.

Our entry for the Third Australian Poster Competition that never made the final cut, addressing the theme — When it rains it pours.

To see the selected entries at National Design Centre click here for details

The studio is happy to announce the launch of a new website designed and developed for hearing products and services retailer — The Hearing Space. The site was developed using basic html, with a little Flash, by Lee at Little Irrepressible Wonton. The Hearing Space is a retail branding project that was commenced by the studio in late 2006, resulting in the development of a new brand, print collateral, retail signing and website.

To visit The Hearing Space click here.

Forty-eight on Monday
The diversity of design returns this Monday, tickets are available from the door, come see Sydney’s Luca and Melbourne’s Kate Hannaford, Soren Luckins, Wendy Ellerton, Shara Henderson and Alex Tyers. 6.15pm Kaleide at RMIT, 360 Swanston Street. See you there.

Andrew is speaking in Korea
Professor Ahn Sang-Soo AGI, has invited Andrew to speak at a design forum XD12-AGI workshop Hongik University, Seoul for a week in mid June, along with Jelle Van de Toorn, Leonardo Sonnoli, Michel de Boer, and Franz Werner. The flight has been paid for, the airfare has been carbon off set 3 times over and Andrew is getting ready to speak design in the public space.

Chamber Music Fundraiser
The studio has donated $5,000 of studio time for auction at this Thursday’s event. The money raised on the night will assist with the running of July’s Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. Good luck CMA we hope you raise more than enough money.