Comments for blog http://tianobookdesign.com/blog About an ex-Brooklyn boy making good making books Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:23:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on I Like What I Like by admin http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112&cpage=1#comment-709 admin Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:23:43 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112#comment-709 I guess we just went to different schools together on this one, Jane, because I'm in total agreement. Maybe one of the reasons I hold on so tenaciously to the notion that a book's design, from typefaces to page makeup, shouldn't be a distraction to the reader is because I grew up such a voracious reader and never wanted to be interrupted when I was into a mystery or a baseball player's biography, my early favorites. And Cheltenham, indeed all the Old Style types, with their muted contrast between thick and thin strokes always go easier on my eyes. Transitional and Modern typefaces' sharper difference between thick and thin strokes never fails to make me stop and notice them, thereby interfering with the flow of my reading. That alone is reason why I almost organically lean to the Old Styles and newer turns on Old Style types. I guess we just went to different schools together on this one, Jane, because I’m in total agreement. Maybe one of the reasons I hold on so tenaciously to the notion that a book’s design, from typefaces to page makeup, shouldn’t be a distraction to the reader is because I grew up such a voracious reader and never wanted to be interrupted when I was into a mystery or a baseball player’s biography, my early favorites. And Cheltenham, indeed all the Old Style types, with their muted contrast between thick and thin strokes always go easier on my eyes. Transitional and Modern typefaces’ sharper difference between thick and thin strokes never fails to make me stop and notice them, thereby interfering with the flow of my reading. That alone is reason why I almost organically lean to the Old Styles and newer turns on Old Style types.

]]> Comment on I Like What I Like by Jane Mackay http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112&cpage=1#comment-697 Jane Mackay Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:17:55 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112#comment-697 I'm with you, Stephen. I'm partial to Old Style typefaces. I like the ITC Cheltenham, particularly the italicized versions. So often italics are difficult to read or just plain unpleasant to look at, but (on the screen at least) the ITC C's itals are lovely to look at and easy to read. I'm not a designer, but I know what I like to look at for long periods of time. I want the words to enter my mind without the distraction of an obtrusive typeface. I’m with you, Stephen. I’m partial to Old Style typefaces. I like the ITC Cheltenham, particularly the italicized versions. So often italics are difficult to read or just plain unpleasant to look at, but (on the screen at least) the ITC C’s itals are lovely to look at and easy to read.

I’m not a designer, but I know what I like to look at for long periods of time. I want the words to enter my mind without the distraction of an obtrusive typeface.

]]> Comment on I Like What I Like by admin http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112&cpage=1#comment-660 admin Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:09:36 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112#comment-660 It's interesting how different people have different tastes in types. So I take it that you generally prefer Transitional fonts like Baskerville or Modern fonts like Bodoni? What are some more recently created typefaces that you like to use? It’s interesting how different people have different tastes in types. So I take it that you generally prefer Transitional fonts like Baskerville or Modern fonts like Bodoni? What are some more recently created typefaces that you like to use?

]]> Comment on What I Know About Columns, Part I by admin http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-659 admin Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:02:10 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=95#comment-659 Just saw this comment, Joel. Funny thing, I don't know at what point I changed my mind about more generous leading, but there was a point where, reflexively, I just didn't like how more looked. Then I suddenly noticed I had begun to like it. I wonder if it was a result of having tired eyes one day and the easier reading just felt better? As for multi-column books, I haven't done many. I think I may have avoided them because I was so used to seeing a two-column setup after a few years of just doing layout on a slate of science journals. Since I couldn't ever alter or update the design in any way, I may have formed a negative connotation in reference to multi-columns. Just saw this comment, Joel. Funny thing, I don’t know at what point I changed my mind about more generous leading, but there was a point where, reflexively, I just didn’t like how more looked. Then I suddenly noticed I had begun to like it. I wonder if it was a result of having tired eyes one day and the easier reading just felt better?

As for multi-column books, I haven’t done many. I think I may have avoided them because I was so used to seeing a two-column setup after a few years of just doing layout on a slate of science journals. Since I couldn’t ever alter or update the design in any way, I may have formed a negative connotation in reference to multi-columns.

]]> Comment on I Like What I Like by Joel Friedlander http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112&cpage=1#comment-658 Joel Friedlander Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:34:47 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=112#comment-658 Very interesting post, Steve. I've never liked Cheltenham, apparently for the exact same reasons you do like it. To me, the lack of contrast in the strokes made it look boring. And the serifs and "oddities" in the letterforms give it a very awkward, blocky look. De gustibus non disputandem I guess. It had a vogue in the late 70s and early 80s, but I haven't seen it used much recently. Thanks for the background. Very interesting post, Steve. I’ve never liked Cheltenham, apparently for the exact same reasons you do like it. To me, the lack of contrast in the strokes made it look boring. And the serifs and “oddities” in the letterforms give it a very awkward, blocky look. De gustibus non disputandem I guess. It had a vogue in the late 70s and early 80s, but I haven’t seen it used much recently. Thanks for the background.

]]> Comment on What I Know About Columns, Part I by Joel Friedlander http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=95&cpage=1#comment-545 Joel Friedlander Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:30:59 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=95#comment-545 Stephen, Enjoying your teaching here, it's another side of Tiano. I kind of like airing out the leading when appropriate for the simple reason that I find the pages more readable for more people. But, the individual project has to be respected. I haven't done a multi-column book for a while, be interested to see your take on that. Will you post any samples? Stephen,

Enjoying your teaching here, it’s another side of Tiano. I kind of like airing out the leading when appropriate for the simple reason that I find the pages more readable for more people. But, the individual project has to be respected.

I haven’t done a multi-column book for a while, be interested to see your take on that. Will you post any samples?

]]> Comment on “Introducing the iPad” by Tweets that mention Stephen Tiano | Book Designer, Page Compositor & Layout Artist's Blog -- Topsy.com http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-543 Tweets that mention Stephen Tiano | Book Designer, Page Compositor & Layout Artist's Blog -- Topsy.com Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:41:43 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106#comment-543 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephen Tiano, Stephen Tiano. Stephen Tiano said: @bencrowder Yeah, I wrote them a letter. They answered. Sort of. ;) See: http://is.gd/7bUmA [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Stephen Tiano, Stephen Tiano. Stephen Tiano said: @bencrowder Yeah, I wrote them a letter. They answered. Sort of. ;) See: http://is.gd/7bUmA [...]

]]> Comment on “Introducing the iPad” by admin http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-522 admin Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:02:24 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106#comment-522 As much as I love every Apple product I've ever owned, I must admit I'm not always thrilled by their customer service. But, to be fair, they could be very busy after yesterday's event and not able to spend the time communicating with a lone book designer. As much as I love every Apple product I’ve ever owned, I must admit I’m not always thrilled by their customer service. But, to be fair, they could be very busy after yesterday’s event and not able to spend the time communicating with a lone book designer.

]]> Comment on “Introducing the iPad” by Katharine O'Moore-Klopf http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106&cpage=1#comment-513 Katharine O'Moore-Klopf Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:40:56 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=106#comment-513 Well, <em>there</em>'s great customer service for you! I hope that an actual person at Apple does get around to answering your questions, which are valid ones. Well, there‘s great customer service for you! I hope that an actual person at Apple does get around to answering your questions, which are valid ones.

]]> Comment on What I Know About Columns, Part II by admin http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=98&cpage=1#comment-509 admin Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:02:51 +0000 http://tianobookdesign.com/blog/?p=98#comment-509 Thanks, Jeff. Well, as I say, if I have page dimentsions--either supplied or that I arrived at qickly and squarely on my own--and text area dimensions don't seem immediately apparent, I nose thru Bringhurst and Hochuli & Kinross. Usually I find something that suggests itself in one of those books; and then I go about whatever adjustments until I'm satisfied it will work for the project at hand. Book design really does lend itself to using the work of others as a foundation for new work of your own. Thanks, Jeff. Well, as I say, if I have page dimentsions–either supplied or that I arrived at qickly and squarely on my own–and text area dimensions don’t seem immediately apparent, I nose thru Bringhurst and Hochuli & Kinross. Usually I find something that suggests itself in one of those books; and then I go about whatever adjustments until I’m satisfied it will work for the project at hand.

Book design really does lend itself to using the work of others as a foundation for new work of your own.

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