I haven’t seen many copies of the Theater Bilderbuch, and the (very few) antique ones that I have seen usually resemble the one on the V & A website.
[ Lucia Contreras Flores has an edition on her website that I have never seen before – you may need to scroll down the web-page to find it. ]
There are two modern editions that I know of –
- a German edition (ISBN 978-3480131631)
- an English language edition (ISBN 978-0722655368)
and these have been re-engineered to work on a smaller scale, and using much thinner materials, than the original publications.
In order to make my miniature version work (to my satisfaction) I had to re-work the original construction too.
My version was designed for 100 gsm paper (I use the smoothest, best quality that I can find.)
90 gsm paper (in my experience) tends to be a little bit too thin and “soft” and, with repeated opening and shutting of the book, quickly loses its crispness.
I am mentioning this here because I have been experimenting with some paper that was recommended by the printers who do most of my printing.
It is 90 gsm, comes on a large roll and is designed to go through a printer “under tension” – in other words it is thin, smooth and relatively tough. It also gives a superb print finish, with excellent colour reproduction.
The printers call it “proofing paper”.
I still don’t know much about it, but I am quietly excited by the possibilities it seems to offer.
In the following slideshow I am using that “proofing paper”.
I would still say that most 90 gsm papers are probably unsuitable for this project, but you may know of a paper, or discover one, that will work better for you than the 100 gsm that I recommend.
It is definitely worthwhile experimenting !
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The pdf for this is here –
Theater_Bilderbuch_Christmas_Eve_OHM20130419
– and there is a page for those who like to Make and Do here.
I am going to repeat here what I have written there –
- Simply click on the link to open the pdf on-line. You can then print it without downloading it.
- If you want to save the pdf to your computer / a CD / data stick etc. you may do that too.
- You may use the contents of the pdf for yourself – and if you would like to make 10 of something and try selling them please go ahead, but do think first of all the other people who will be doing exactly the same thing.
- You may share these projects with your friends and family, and miniature club.
- You may link to them from your website / blog / satellite station, if you have one
- You may customise them.
- You may use them / the design ideas, in whole, or in part, as for inspiration for making your own things.
You may not copy the pdf, or the contents of the pdf, in whole, or in part, and re-sell them.
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I found the method used to construct the modern German edition of the Theater Bilderbuch very interesting.
The background scene, the text for one play and the front of the next theatre in the series are printed on one sheet and the various sheets are then folded round each other and glued together.
Technicalities aside, the way that the front of the theatre frames the scenes, so that the edges are hidden – even when viewed from an angle – and the way that the overall scene changes depending on the viewer’s position make this (for me) not only an extremely good example of paper engineering, but it is also a wonderful piece of “theatre” – in every sense of the word.
Dear Elizabeth,
thanks a lot for the great tutorial.
I will do it for my toy shop.
Can I use also 120 gr. paper?
I wish you a nice weekend.
Hug
Sonja
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Dear Sonja,
You are very welcome !
Thank you for leaving a comment.
120 gsm paper might be a litle bit thick – you will need to make the creases very firmly – but do try and see how it works for you !
I hope you have a good weekend too 🙂
Elizabeth
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Thanks for the super fast answer!!!
I printed it now on 120 gr paper.
Tomorror I will try to do it.
A big hug to you
Sonja
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Good Luck !
let me know how it works for you 🙂
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Great tutorial!
I did the whole book in mini a few years back and it was the hardest thing I ever did. Here it is
https://picasaweb.google.com/114197593009230300819/PopUpBook#
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Thank you for leaving a comment and for the link.
I am always completely exhausted by the time I have finished making these books.
– and from the photos it looks to me as though your book is smaller in size than mine 🙂
It was really good to see it – thank you again.
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I’ve been looking forward to this project ever since I saw that the Christmas Eve scene “won”. Thanks for the wonderful post.
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You are very welcome, Sharon 🙂
Thank you for leaving a comment.
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Back to paper type! I hate to bring up this subject again, as I know it is very frustrating. I thought I had it figured out, using gsm to pounds (or pounds to gsm) conversion tables I’ve found online. But now I’ve discovered that the conversion depends on whether it is “text” or “cover” paper (or worse, coated paper). And I think “cover” paper is basically “cardstock”. So my very smooth lightweight cardstock that is 65lb is not 100gsm, as I originally thought, but is actually 176gsm.
Because you’ve used the term “paper”, I was thinking I might try the cut-sheet plotter paper I’ve got, but there is NO weight at all (gsm or lbs) listed on the packaging or in online specifications for the paper. The 100gsm papers I found listed on Amazon seem to be photo papers, which are more like cardstock than “paper”, or are described as “heavy, linen finish”…which doesn’t sound “smooth”, to me.
Is there a more descriptive name for the 100gsm paper that you use (like plotter paper, copier paper, all-purpose paper, photo paper, cardstock, etc.) so that I’d have a better idea of what I’m looking for?
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Dear Sharon,
The books that I have made in the past have been printed on 100gsm, superfine Canon “printer” paper (uncoated).
I think this probably equates to about a 68lbs paper.
However…
To make this book work successfully, I think that the main thing that you need to look for is a paper that creases well and, when creased, holds its shape.
The next consideration is the thickness of the paper – there are quite a few layers in the completed book and if the paper is thicker than 100gsm (any type of paper /card) the book gets rather bulky.
[You need to be able to print a finely detailed small image on it too!]
I had a look on-line to see if I could find anything helpful about paper weights etc., but the best that I found does not seem to be much practical help. (It does not help that the words used to describe paper / card vary – !)
So –
Feel the plotter paper that you have – is it smooth? If it is you get a good quality print on it.
When you fold it and crease it, does it hold its shape? Try making a trial crease and then cutting (in parallel) close to the crease and manipulating the narrow flap.
The plotter paper that I have is (I think) a little bit too thin for this book (Shame !) but, although it is “thin” it is “Bond Paper” and “Bond Paper” is usually characterised as…
…“This paper has good strength properties, good stiffness and good aesthetical look. The name “bond” was originally given to a paper which was used for printing bonds, stock certificates, etc. Important characteristics are finish, strength, and freeness from blemish.
Used For : Mostly used for letterheads and for image building stationery”…
Your plotter paper is probably a “Bond Paper” too and so I would say it is well worth trying to use it for the book – why not do one piece like the stage with the scenes in place and see how it works?
I did find one wonderful on-line list of different paper types here –
http://www.biltpaper.com/atoz3.asp
I am sorry that I can’t suggest an Amazon (US) alternative to my 100 gsm paper – I did have a quick look but all the 100gsm / 68lbs papers there seem to be coated and / or designed for printing photographs.
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Are the conversion examples that you have looked at on line like this – ?
Text stock: multiply lbs by 1.5 to arrive at the gsm (Test stock = the paper inside a book)
Cover stock: multiply lbs by 2.70 to arrive at the gsm (Cover stock = materials for the cover of a book)
Examples: (be aware that your answer might be approximate)
lbs to gsm: 60 lb text stock multiplied by 1.5 = 90 gsm.
However, 90 gsm is not standard, so the closest correlate is 100 gsm stock.
gsm to lbs: 120 gsm text stock divided by 1.5 = 80 lbs.
120 gsm converts to 80 lb stock.
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