Assignment: A full color 10 1/4" x 13" cover to attract readers.
Deadline: Two days.
Concept: To create a cover that was fun yet not too topical.
So instead of the usual photo (which at the time had a small library and nothing was suitable), a drawing was created to show the love for dad.
Since this was 1976 and the bi-centennial was growing in interest, I figured I would get a head start on the flag.
Knowing the image would be over used in July, I decided to use it on the cover.
At the time, these ties were custom made but where still frowned up by the silent majority.
Specifications: Hand drawing cartoon figures were sketched and approved by the art director. The figures were traced on velum using a Design medium black marker in a 1/16" path to ensure registration.
The skin tones (20% yellow and 20% red work well), background and flag were cut on amberlith flaps and marked accordingly to percentage value and color. The circles were drawn with a huge compass with an extension arm.
Each of the amberlith flaps were punched and fitted to the vellum drawing taped to a heavy cardboard backing.
Presstype for the "Father's Day" was put on a piece of vellum laid on a thin blue line.
First the type was given to our engravers ( the one's who operated the huge page camaers) and requested it be blown up to 13" or the depth of the cover.
The print of the resized type was waxed and pasted to a clear acrelate flap, much as the amberlith had been prepared. The edges of the type were touched up by a free hand Rapidograph pen.
The thick line around the date was hand drawn using a Design black marker.
A blue box was cut in amberlith marked to drop out of all the colors.
Then the type flap was marked to drop out of the blue box.
The entire piece, board, and flaps were taken to the engravers.
Each flap was shot on the page cameras and screen applied to the negatives.
The four color negatives were combined and shot again.
A color key or amberlith four color seperation was made of the final 4-colors.
The was registered and taped together as a press proof.
Note: Be sure to check the correct usage of the possessive '.
