Mega Crit

On Friday we had a mega crit before we left for Christmas. It was a good time to get some last pieces of feedback, especially as I'd be printing straight after the break.

I presented a stack of all the mono prints I'd made, my screenprints, as well as 2 mockups of my publication - a black and white, and a full colour copy. The finished publication will be printed in the digital print room, so there will be some differences. It was more to get an idea of the size and page order.

 Feedback form

The feedback was generally positive which was good. Key things that were mentioned:

• Atmospheric textures
• Lo-fi look
• Monoprint textures and light and dark pages are well-balanced
• The aesthetic suits the author
• Colour choice is well thought through / subtle use of pink / flecks of colour
• Incorporating the writing gives a sort of narrative

Considerations/Improvements:

• The digital type - people said that they would prefer if all of the type was handwritten/monotyped. The digital type detracts from the handmade feel.

• Black - can appear quite harsh, maybe a different colour would enhance the textures

Because the examples I presented in the crit were just mockups, there will be changes when it comes to the finished product. I would like the final print to be on a matte paper, I'm not keen on the slight sheen on the mockups.

Also, I would like to hand-stitch the final. I'm thinking of using a hot pink thread to contrast against the dark covers.

On the inside title page, the small monotyped man is very faint. The lines don't show up as well as they do on screen. I will either change the image to a thicker line drawing, or remove it entirely.

There is also thoughts about stock - do I use a thicker stock for the front and back covers? Will this create a more considered, professional finish? There is also the option of creating a fastening or band to hold it together. I'll think about this over the break.

The main thing is that it is mostly finished. I just need to focus on the animated stings.