We’ve had yearbook covers on the brain a lot lately…especially since we’ll be announcing the winner of our 2024-25 Yearbook Cover Contest in just days! We’ve seen so many great submissions, but all we are seeing right now are pictures…when those pictures turn into fully completed covers is where we get to see them in all of their glory.
So how does Friesens go from your submitted image to an actual, tangible cover? Read on!
First, the Friesens Cover Team will review your cover, checking for obvious things like missing text, low resolution images, backgrounds not bleeding off the wrap, and more. They’ll also make sure that your yearbook cover matches the details set forth in your quote (there shouldn’t be any surprises…like socks, your quote and invoice should ALWAYS match!). If there are any elements in your cover design that need your attention, your Project Specialist will work with you to fix them as quickly as possible to make sure we can still hit your target delivery date.
Once all is good to go, next you’ll get an email letting you know your proof is available in ConnectMe. In the body of the message will be a link that will take you to where you can review the proof and approve or request revision.
Once the proof is approved, material is ordered and your cover has its press time scheduled. From there we go to “impositioning”, which is where we determine how to run the covers most efficiently…this is important to get the most out of the raw materials and resources needed to complete the project. After that step is completed, printing plates are made and off your cover goes to be brought to life! It gets printed, and then any laminations, foils, and other cover finishes are added.
Most of the yearbook covers we produce are hardcover, and that’s a bit more involved than creating a softcover book. Cover boards and the printed cover “skins” need to be glued together before they can be added to the book block. If there’s any embossing or debossing on your cover, it’s done after the cover is assembled in the casemaker.
From there, it’s off to the encaser, which binds your yearbook cover together with the rest of the book. Endsheets and headbands are added, the gutter gets nipped, and at the end of the massive machine (and a massive commitment from you) we have a fully realized yearbook! Once it’s bound together, any die cutting or personalization is added, and your yearbooks are packed up and sent to your school to be enjoyed and cherished by all!
Want to see the process from start to finish? Watch our virtual tour on the making of a school yearbook!
