Every kind of publication brings its own typesetting issues. Here I describe what the work usually covers for a book, monograph, academic journal, album, catalogue or e-book, and what I watch for, based on more than thirty years in the trade. Each kind shows how many such publications are in my portfolio.
With a book I start from the master layout: format, margins, typeface, type size and leading chosen for the length and character of the text. Then I typeset and paginate the whole book, design the cover and prepare print-ready files, plus an electronic edition if needed.
What I pay attention to
widows and orphans, single lines of a paragraph left at the top or bottom of a page
even word spacing in justified text and correct hyphenation
Polish single-letter words that must not be left at the end of a line
consistent chapter openings, running heads and page numbering throughout
spine width calculated once the paper and page count are known
Academic publications have more components than ordinary books: footnotes, a bibliography, indexes, tables, charts and quotations in other scripts. I typeset them to the university press guidelines, or build a consistent layout of my own when there are none.
What I pay attention to
long footnotes that continue onto the next page without breaking the layout
tables wider than the text column, set sideways or split with a repeated header
name and subject indexes with page numbers updated after the final proof
consistent formatting of the bibliography, abbreviations and foreign-language quotations
formal requirements for ISBN, legal deposit copies and grant reporting
An academic periodical is a fixed template repeated issue after issue: article title page, abstracts, keywords, author notes, page numbering. Every issue looks the same, and each next one is produced faster.
What I pay attention to
articles by many authors in different files and styles, brought to one layout
abstracts and summaries in several languages
illustrations and archival photographs of very uneven quality
fixed elements of each issue: masthead, contents, notes for contributors
deadlines set by the publishing schedule and reporting
In an album the photographs come first, so the text and layout are there to serve them. I choose the grid, the order and rhythm of the spreads, and prepare every image for print: colour, contrast, sharpening and a profile matched to the paper.
What I pay attention to
photos from different sources and cameras that must look consistent side by side
images crossing the spine, allowing for the binding
colour accuracy on coated and uncoated paper
resolution sufficient for a large format
captions and texts that do not overpower the images
A catalogue combines reproductions or product photos with descriptions, data and numbering. I build a layout that accommodates images of different proportions, keep the colours true to the originals and watch the deadline, because a catalogue usually has to be ready for a specific opening or trade fair.
What I pay attention to
reproductions of artworks whose colour must match the original
I prepare the electronic edition as reflowable EPUB and MOBI, as a PDF, including interactive PDF, or as a flipbook. Publications with a complex layout get a fixed layout, continuous text gets a reflowable one.
What I pay attention to
footnotes, contents and cross-references that work when tapped
tables and illustrations that stay legible on a small screen
embedded fonts with the full set of Polish characters
metadata: title, author, ISBN of the electronic edition
checking the file in a validator and on several reading devices
A guidebook has to work out in the field: short blocks of text, a clear hierarchy of headings, captioned photos and practical information that is easy to find. I design the layout for quick look-up, not only for reading from cover to cover.
What I pay attention to
several levels of information on one page without a cluttered look
a system of markers and cross-references between chapters
a handy format and paper that stands up to heavy use
photos of sites prepared for small sizes on the page
In a comic I letter the balloons, captions and sound effects on the artist’s pages, then prepare the whole book for print. In translated editions I fit the Polish text into balloons designed for another language.
What I pay attention to
Polish text, often longer than the original, that still has to fit the balloon
a lettering typeface legible at small sizes and matching the artwork
line-art blacks and page colours prepared for print
bleed and safe margins for panels running to the edge
A series needs one design that works across many volumes of different length and content. I prepare a cover and interior template that keeps every volume recognisable on the shelf and makes typesetting the next one faster.
What I pay attention to
a cover that takes titles of any length without changing the layout
spines of different widths that still line up on the shelf
consistent text styles in every volume
volume numbering and the fixed elements of the series
Photos for books and catalogues arrive in very different condition: scans of old prints, phone pictures, archival material. I scan prints, remove scratches and colour casts, balance colour and contrast, cut out objects and convert everything to CMYK for the chosen paper.
What I pay attention to
damaged archival photos that have lost contrast
phone photos with too little resolution for a large format
consistent colour across the whole set of images in one publication
dot gain on uncoated paper that makes photos print darker
On request I also handle printing: I choose a print house suited to the run and the type of publication, prepare files to its specification, check the proof and keep an eye on the delivery date. The studio invoices the printing, so the client deals with one contractor from typesetting to finished copies.
What I pay attention to
digital or offset printing, depending on the print run
paper, binding and finishes matched to the budget
the technical requirements of the specific printer: bleed, profiles, file format
checking the proof before the whole run is printed
delivery of the finished copies to the address you choose
By default, only technically necessary (browser storage for your preference in this window). With your consent, I also enable Google Analytics for anonymous visit statistics. Privacy policy →