Stephen King's Holly
A Not-So-Scary Project
Choosing a novel to read is usually a straightforward process, especially when you have a favorite author or genre, such as Stephen King. His books are renowned for their masterful storytelling that keeps fans coming back for more. Since his books are such page-turners, it’s important that the story is appreciated for its aesthetic qualities as well. True book aficionados recognize that the methods used in printing a book are equally important as the story inside. Friesens enjoys a good challenge and took on this project that was both complicated and “fearsome”!
The Challenge
Friesens’ long-time customer, French publisher Albin-Michel wanted to produce an identical version of the book Holly, by Stephen King, in Canada that had previously been printed in Paris, France. Albin-Michel made it clear that one of the most critical elements in this project was to recreate the same effects in Canada that had been produced offshore. Both productions should have the same effects and precisely represent the trademark of the publisher by having the proper feel in both the text component and finishing applications on the cover. Overall, this project had to align visually and texturally with the original version.
The Solution
The customer was optimistic and approached Friesens with the European files. However, one of the biggest obstacles we faced was that these files showed an application technique using cold foil, a method Friesens had never used before. But as mentioned previously, Friesens enjoys a good challenge and decided to think outside the box!
Using the expertise of our tech support, particularly Brad Schmidt, we closely examined the files and devised a plan to achieve the same effect using a different process instead of cold foil:
- First, we applied a Metallized Luminescence Lamination over all sheets of the cover.
- Second, we applied a PMS Opaque White over the required area,
- That was followed by a 4-color process plus 1 PMS (orange) color.
- Finally, we added matte lamination on top, plus Spot Gloss UV and a blind deboss.
The End Result
The result was so close to the original cold foil technique that the customer was astonished and asked, “How did we do that?” They expressed their satisfaction with the finished product, explaining that they will never hesitate to bring other projects to Friesens—especially if there is a tricky cover matching project that needs to be reproduced again!
We encourage you to find a copy of this softcover book with its warm colors and striking text, because it immediately captivates your eye. The cover, with its sophisticated design, has a magical feel. Holly is a work of art, a testament to the fusion of literary genius and exceptional printing techniques. Friesens was happy to be a part of this project, not just as another job to us, but to use the capabilities of our talented employee-owners to problem solve and come up with a solution that benefits everyone!