The Book Cover

Intricately bound and packed with technical insight for designers, bookbinders, and the small-press scene, the itemzero "Making a Book" series has to be held to be appreciated. Each book is Smyth-sewn, with exposed stitching and unique edge printing, among other adventurous binding techniques, and it's a treat to read a book on how to design and physically create something so lovely.

THE BOOK COVER is the second installment in the "Making a Book" series, featuring bilingual (English and Portuguese, cleverly combined back-to-back with contrasting colors to indicate the language) instruction on contemporary styles and techniques for manufacturing book covers. Cleverly covered itself (with a zig-zag shaped paper spine that runs through the book's center), THE BOOK COVER will inspire designers to try new things with the physical form and visual design of their covers.

Developed by experienced industrial bookbinders, THE BOOK COVER will help professionals and interested amateurs alike in keeping up with the state-of-the-art techniques in bindery. Each process is considered in detail, with key definitions, clearly illustrated diagrams, and a memorable use of two-color printing on each page.