7. Proofing
8. Printing
4. Artwork
1. Concept
The initial stage of a pop-up proposal is put together in the form of sketches. These are done in pen and ink, and are, usually, presented as a PDF with annotations and explanations etc.
-
2.Paper engineering & the prototype
The paper engineering is the most crucial stage, this is when the pop-up is designed, and the mechanics worked out. This is done by making paper and card models which are modified and tweaked until the desired effect is obtained, and then a prototype, or mock-up, is made.
The prototype is also used to obtain costings for print and assembly.
3. Die-lines
From the prototype, die-lines are created. These are vector files and can be supplied in various formats.
-
4.Artwork
The illustrator, photographer or designer creates the artwork to fit the die-lines, we then check the backing up and bleed areas.
5. Colour mock-up
Using print outs of the artwork, a fully working, colour mock-up is made, this is used to check the mechanisms are working correctly and everything is looking as it should.
6. Nesting sheet
The production process continues with all the artwork being arranged on large nesting sheets - ready for printing.
7. Film making and proofing
The reproduction files are created and the first proofs are assembled for proofing and checking.
8. Printing
Once the proofs are approved the printing begins.
9. Die-cutting and assembly
The printed sheets are die cut into component parts and then hand assembled.
10. Shipping and delivery
The finished items are shipped and delivered. In the case of books, these are shipped to final destination port, after clearing customs the books are dispatched to the publisher’s warehouse before distribution to the bookshops.
How We Make Pop-Ups
1. Concept
10. Delivery
6. Nesting sheet
9. Die Cutting & Assembly
With a wealth of experience in the world of novelty books and with lots of pop-up innovations of our own, we have created hundreds of pop-up books with many different paper engineering mechanics: Tip-ups, pull tabs; dials; changing pictures; pivots and rivets, etc. We endeavour to make pop-ups integral to the story not just an add on.
We know card and paper, how it folds and what stress it is under when it is made to move in a particular way, we know where it needs to be creased, perforated, slotted or strengthened. We know what will work and what won’t.
Paper engineering is a technical, exacting and highly skilled art form. With 20 years under our belt we like to think we have some paper engineering expertise and technical knowhow to deliver the highest quality products.
Our pop-up services cover a project from concept right through to delivery. We are in constant contact with the specialist printers of novelty books in the UK and in Hong Kong, China, Singapore and Thailand.
5. Colour mock-up
3. Die-lines
2. Paper Engineering & Prototype Dummy
10 stages to creating a Pop-Up
To create a pop-up, be it a brochure or a greeting card or a fully fledged pop-up book, there are many different things to be done. We have broken the process down into 10 stages here:
This shows the pop-up skull from ‘Alive’
Cutting Forms
The pop-up skull shown above is from Alive. Here on the left is is the cutting form for the skull, and it is an example of some of the challenges of paper engineering.
To create this particular pop-up took a lot of time - First we borrowed a skull from the Bristol University Medical Department, then we made measurements and took photos. We then constructed many versions, changing and tweaking each one to create the curved cuts and angles that make a realistic looking skull.
Our books
+ 44 (0) 117 944 6997
