Hello! I own this piece of framed art work that appears to be the actual design of one of James Marshall's book. I really have no knowledge about this and I was hoping someone might have some information. For example, how it would be used in the publication process of the book or if it was used for that. The main piece is a signed drawing by Marshall for his children's book (back cover) George and Martha: Rise & Shine. I also have 4 overlays that appear to be transparencies and they do not photograph well. I am assuming the overlays would of been used during the making of the book ?? I would appreciate any information.
Back in the days before computers, graphic designers would separate the elements on layouts using overlays. Here, it looks like they used them for the different spot colors used in the design. They included the registration marks (circles with cross hairs) on each of the overlays so the printer could align everything when it came time to make the plates for printing.
Yes, how I remember those overlays. The artists did their best where I worked to make it so that it was a puzzle putting the overlays back in the right order after undoing them to check for errors. The good ole days of advertising catalogs for me.
Yep, when I started in graphics (well before computers graphics came about) that is how we did art for printing
Thank you for all of the information. I really appreciate it! I didn't know what they were. I will hold on to them for posterity and I assume these were all done by J. Marshall. Thanks!
He may have done the base drawing but the "color overlays" would most likely have been done by a minion graphic designer at the printer.