
It’s a very long time since I made any of these books and I was rather surprised when someone asked if I would demonstrate how they are made.
First many thanks are due to Q, who lent me the original book and gave me permission to use it here.
Secondly, many, many, many thanks are due to Sharon who, several blog posts ago, mentioned that she thought that HP plotter paper gave her a better print.
To cut a long story short, thanks to Sharon, I bought a large roll of 80gsm (21lbs) HP plotter paper from Amazon.
When I tried it out on my printer at home I was astonished by the results.
It is very difficult to show the quality of the print in a photograph, but I am going to try.
The top strip is 80 gsm plotter paper and the bottom strip is 100 gsm best quality inkjet (un-coated) paper.

The top strip (which is 12th scale and smaller in size) was printed last week on my home computer. My printer has an unreliable paper feed and does not reproduce colours particularly well.
The folded strip below (which is slightly larger than 12th scale) is a professionally produced giclée print from about 10 years ago. (Giclée = fancy word for ink-jet print done by a very, very good, exceedingly expensive printer – in this case an Epson.)
Sharon, I can’t thank you enough.
I have tried and, so far, failed to photograph the difference this is going to make. I can only say that a 600 ppi, professional print on this paper looks as though it is on coated ink-jet paper. It is that good.
*** *** *** ***
The book in the slideshow below was made using HP plotter paper but it should be possible to get a reasonable print on ordinary photocopy paper.
NOTE – the glue makes a difference as well as the printer, ink and paper on this project.
I used Evo-stick white wood working glue – this has a thick consistency and dries quickly.
The text in my 12th scale version (even on plotter paper !) are only readable to dolls’ house residents so, please visit Project Gutenberg, where the book is reproduced in full, if you would like to read it.
I feel I ought to also mention that Paper Minis have a kit for this book (it is a long way down the page, so keep scrolling). This has a cover and readable text. There is also a tutorial on how to make it here .
I haven’t seen Paper Mini’s kits in real life and so I haven’t tried any out. They do have an enviable collection !
Finally, my version…
The McLoughlin Book that I copied was a simple accordion fold, or concertina fold, book.
In the slideshow I do not follow the usual instructions for making this type of book. (I was reproducing a book, not making one from scratch). There are some good videos on YouTube, if you want to see how one is usually made.
As the full strip of pages is 12 inches (30 cm) long, I have made two pdfs, so that there is a choice –
Print and join two strips – McLoughlin_Circus_Procession_A4_paper_20130322
Print one (very long) strip – McLoughlin_Circus_Procession_12_inch_strip_20130322
The pdf for the covers is here – McLoughlin_Circus_Procession_covers_20130322
NOTE – 23rd march 2013 – from the comments there seems to be some confusion as to what “tissue paper” is.
In UK English, “tissue paper” is not a paper handkerchief (or “a tissue”), it is the sort of very fine paper that is sometimes used for wrapping small items before putting them in a gift box.
Have a look here on Amazon to see what I am talking about.
To escape from the slideshow at any time, press the Esc key on your keyboard.
Finally
The plotter paper is available from Amazon in A4 sheets too.
These would be much easier to store than the roll that I bought.
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There is a page for those who like to Make and Do here and I am going to repeat here what I have said there –
- If you want to save the pdf(s) 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 pdfs, or the contents of the pdfs, in whole, or in part, and re-sell them.
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