The Nine Gates - NEW PHOTOS (page 12)
- Thread starter Flattery
- Start date
Thanks for your feedback Drac and Tom 
@Tom.. to say I have no "experience" in bookbinding would be not correct. But it is correct that the above book is my very first book where I did used all tecniques (I know) of periode style binding, including by my own sewn headbands and blind + goldtooling the leather. Basicly everything is done the same way, as Hagen did his great 9G version. In generell this is my 3rd book bound in periode style and the second book I've rounded and backed the spine by my own. Everything done by trail+error. So by studying the internet (youtube) and printed materials PLUS the help from Hagen, I've teached myself trying to get into the craft of book-binding!
Thanks for your comment about screen-accuracy. But I'am as far off as Hagens version. The things differing (to Hagen) are the endpapers (my endpapers are soft ivory colored... exactly as the paper for the pages I've used), the paper for the pages themselfs (my paper is high quality laser-copy paper), the thread for the headbands + the final color of the leather cover (and of course the pattern of the stamps used for the decorative border of the cover and back)... so these are the main differences Tecnically I've did the same, as Hagen, but less professional. Still need a LOT of experience to become close to Hagens book-binding skills...
But I am pretty happy about the results so far, being a newbie to this craft!
@Tom.. to say I have no "experience" in bookbinding would be not correct. But it is correct that the above book is my very first book where I did used all tecniques (I know) of periode style binding, including by my own sewn headbands and blind + goldtooling the leather. Basicly everything is done the same way, as Hagen did his great 9G version. In generell this is my 3rd book bound in periode style and the second book I've rounded and backed the spine by my own. Everything done by trail+error. So by studying the internet (youtube) and printed materials PLUS the help from Hagen, I've teached myself trying to get into the craft of book-binding!
Thanks for your comment about screen-accuracy. But I'am as far off as Hagens version. The things differing (to Hagen) are the endpapers (my endpapers are soft ivory colored... exactly as the paper for the pages I've used), the paper for the pages themselfs (my paper is high quality laser-copy paper), the thread for the headbands + the final color of the leather cover (and of course the pattern of the stamps used for the decorative border of the cover and back)... so these are the main differences
Tecnically I've did the same, as Hagen, but less professional. Still need a LOT of experience to become close to Hagens book-binding skills... But I am pretty happy about the results so far, being a newbie to this craft!
MAKE BELIEVE
Master Member
Very good job, MurdocXXL
I'm at the moment working on mine (sadly it won't be as good as yours...)
Congrats
I'm at the moment working on mine (sadly it won't be as good as yours...)
Congrats
Flattery
Well-Known Member
I'm only too happy to see this on the thread, Murdoc (Ralf).
I see this not so much as a testament to the popularity of the Nine Gates but to Murdoc's persistence and perseverance in historical bookbinding. A lot has happened behind the scenes to get to this point. If I were to venture a rough estimate based on experience, I'd say that bookbinding students -- whether formal students or self-taught -- have about a 60% dropout/failure rate. The fact that Murdoc has gotten to this point shows he's got the chops. And his work will only get better.
Once my project is shut down (I still have a ways to go), I think there might be a successor here.
Cheers,
Flattery
(Hagen)
I see this not so much as a testament to the popularity of the Nine Gates but to Murdoc's persistence and perseverance in historical bookbinding. A lot has happened behind the scenes to get to this point. If I were to venture a rough estimate based on experience, I'd say that bookbinding students -- whether formal students or self-taught -- have about a 60% dropout/failure rate. The fact that Murdoc has gotten to this point shows he's got the chops. And his work will only get better.
Once my project is shut down (I still have a ways to go), I think there might be a successor here.
Cheers,
Flattery
(Hagen)
Mmm, don't know if it is a real improvement. Looks a bit "too clean" to me. The left image has more "authenticity" to it. Seems like the old ink has bleeded a bit. You also lost a bit of detail with vectorizing the image. Look at the eye for instance: in the unvectored image it has two white spots, a big one and a small one. The small one got lost during the vectoring process. Idem for the curves at the bottom of the nose. The subtle "weave" there is lost too.
I also experimented with software like VectorMagic, but sometimes the unvectorized image still is better than the vectorized one in the end...
Just my two cents...
I also experimented with software like VectorMagic, but sometimes the unvectorized image still is better than the vectorized one in the end...
Just my two cents...
Flattery
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I caught that after the fact and re-vectored all the images with tighter paths to compensate. They're all looking much better now.
I completely agree when it comes to the digital work, but on the pages there is a teeny bit of fuzziness because the paper fibers are all cotton, so there's a miniscule amount of bleeding that occurs before the ink dries. If you look at it under magnification you can see it. It's just right. When I compare the page proofs to genuine 17th C. pages, it's spot on. Old letterpress ink doesn't bleed to the degree shown in the left-hand image, even after immersion in water. It remains crisp and clear, unless of course something physically abrasive has gotten to it.
Thanks for weighing in -- I appreciate it.
Cool improvement Hagen Congrates.
I understand Toms remark.. If you look onto the above comparison the vectorized version looks to "clean", but I have to agree, that It will totally look different well printed on the correct paper. Would love to see details and a full page, side by side
of the new and old printed versions
Oh Hagen by the way.. many thanks for your above comment. I am more then honored that you believe I might be a "successor" :$ Thanks a lot
Congrates. I understand Toms remark.. If you look onto the above comparison the vectorized version looks to "clean", but I have to agree, that It will totally look different well printed on the correct paper. Would love to see details and a full page, side by side
of the new and old printed versions
Oh Hagen by the way.. many thanks for your above comment. I am more then honored that you believe I might be a "successor" :$ Thanks a lot
Last edited:
Mmm, yeah, maybe once printed, the image would look better. Anyway, I'm still saving to get me one of these great books! ;-)
yinyangpalms
Member
I'm very late to the party, but this is jaw droppingly beautiful, your work is stunning and a sight to behold. Are you still producing them?
Sent you an email about working out a trade!thumbsup
Let me know if you didn't recieve it?
thumbsupLet me know if you didn't recieve it?
Amazing work and attention to detail. I'm still surprised that a larger company hasn't mass produced replicas of this book. I imagine it would be nearly impossible with the amount of time that goes into making this for anyone to actually mass produce these. Love the film and absolutely love your work on this replica book.
Similar threads
