Book Imposition

This photo shows imposition proofs for my Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers. The book is due out in the next few months, published by O’Reilly, and is being printed in Italy. In the photo, these large proof sheets are laid out on our living room floor.

Each of the large sheets of paper represents a signature of 16 or 24 pages that will be bound into the final, printed book. This kind of proof is about how the pages will be ordered on press, and definitely not about color reproduction (there are other kinds of proofs that deal with color). When imposition proofs are done right (as these are), they show the printer has thought carefully about how the pages will be printed on press because images with strong color bias are located in “columns” on the same press form (each form represented by an imposition proof sheet).

Dennis Fitzgerald is the Production Editor at O’Reilly. Dennis was kind enough to bring these imposition proofs over last night in foul weather, and to be carefully and meticulously sheparding the book through the shoals of production.

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The Photoshop Darkroom: Creative Digital Post-Processing Creative Composition: Digital Tips & Techniques 100 Views of the Golden Gate Creative Close-Ups: Digital Tips & Techniques


Harold buys most of his digital photo equipment from B&H.

3 Responses to “Book Imposition”

  1. Photoblog 2.0: » Photoblog 2.0 Archive: » Press Proofs Says:

    [...] a previous story, I showed imposition proofs for my Light & Exposure for Digital Photographers laid out on our [...]

  2. Photoblog 2.0: » Photoblog 2.0 Archive: » Proofing in Bed Says:

    [...] can’t really tell that Phyllis is gravid in this photo, but you can see both imposition and color proofs for my 100 Views of the Golden [...]

  3. Beautiful photo of a book being proofed! Says:

    [...] Check out the photo and backstory on Harold’s blog. [...]

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