Architectural-slipcase-title-c-Thumbprint-Books
 
Architectural-slipcase-title-c-Thumbprint-Books
Architectural-slipcase-title-c-Thumbprint-Books
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PORTFOLIO


Traditional printing. On-demand printing. Hand binding. Digital story. We offer all these options. And if you want to display one or more copies uniquely, we can transform your book into “book art.”

 
Image

PORTFOLIO


Traditional printing. On-demand printing. Hand binding. Digital story. We offer all these options. And if you want to display one or more copies uniquely, we can transform your book into “book art.”

 
Image

PORTFOLIO


Traditional printing. On-demand printing. Hand binding. Digital story. We offer all these options. And if you want to display one or more copies uniquely, we can transform your book into “book art.”

 

PORTFOLIO


Traditional printing. On-demand printing. Hand binding. Digital story. We offer all these options. And if you want to display one or more copies uniquely, we can transform your book into “book art.”

PORTFOLIO


Traditional printing. On-demand printing. Hand binding. Digital story. We offer all these options. And if you want to display one or more copies uniquely, we can transform your book into “book art.”

 

BECAUSE WE CAN bind books by hand, we are not limited to traditional book sizes, shapes, or bindings. We listen carefully for themes or interests that can be put into visual form so that the end product is not only personal, but is also unique to you.

WE KEEP EXPLORING ways for books to be displayed—whether on a coffee table, or cabinet, or wall—as “book art.” Or as a digital story. Here is a sampling of some of the books we have created.
 

BECAUSE WE CAN bind books by hand, we are not limited to traditional book sizes, shapes, or bindings. We listen carefully for themes or interests that can be put into visual form so that the end product is not only personal, but is also unique to you.

We keep exploring ways for books to be displayed—whether on a coffee table, or cabinet, or wall—as “book art.” Or as a digital story. Here is a sampling of some of the books we have created.

GRANDFATHER’S STORY WITH CUSTOM SLIPCASE

A gentleman commissioned us to capture his 90‑year‑old father’s story for the grandchildren and great‑grandchildren. We interviewed the grandfather, combined our transcript with stories the family had previously gathered, scanned relevant photos, and designed a visually interesting, readable book. Anecdotes range from growing up on the Canadian prairies, learning a strong work ethic, pursuing music as a youth, early business ventures, to marriage and family, and years in his very successful motor vehicle dealership. Our client chose his father’s 90th birthday party as the occasion to give copies of the book to family members. For the twelve copies of the book, we designed and created custom slipcases covered in faux leather with a gold leaf image of our client’s father as a young businessman on the front.

Grandather-story-01-c-Thumbprint-Books
 

Grandather-story-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

A grandfather's story captured for his grandchildren and great‑grandchildren

TESTIMONIAL: “Thank you for helping me capture my father’s story for his grandkids and great-grandkids. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years. You guided us effectively through the process. Your interview with my father (combined with the stories his wife had already written down), interwoven with many photos from his life, has formed a great retrospective of Dad’s story. The custom, gold-leafed slipcases you designed and created are beautiful and make each copy that much more special. You’ve created a book that I’m extremely proud to have for family and friends.” — R. McDonald

Grandather-story-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads in the book

 

GRANDFATHER’S STORY WITH CUSTOM SLIPCASE

A gentleman commissioned us to capture his 90‑year‑old father’s story for the grandchildren and great‑grandchildren. We interviewed the grandfather, combined our transcript with stories the family had previously gathered, scanned relevant photos, and designed a visually interesting, readable book. Anecdotes range from growing up on the Canadian prairies, learning a strong work ethic, pursuing music as a youth, early business ventures, to marriage and family, and years in his very successful motor vehicle dealership. Our client chose his father’s 90th birthday party as the occasion to give copies of the book to family members. For the twelve copies of the book, we designed and created custom slipcases covered in faux leather with a gold leaf image of our client’s father as a young businessman on the front.

Grandather-story-01-c-Thumbprint-BooksGrandather-story-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

A grandfather's story captured for his grandchildren and great‑grandchildren

TESTIMONIAL: “Thank you for helping me capture my father’s story for his grandkids and great-grandkids. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for many years. You guided us effectively through the process. Your interview with my father (combined with the stories his wife had already written down), interwoven with many photos from his life, has formed a great retrospective of Dad’s story. The custom, gold-leafed slipcases you designed and created are beautiful and make each copy that much more special. You’ve created a book that I’m extremely proud to have for family and friends.” — R. McDonald

Grandather-story-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads in the book

Corporate-anniversary-printed-book-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

CORPORATE ANNIVERSARY PROJECT

The print and digital versions share stories from the first 40 years of Shapiro|Pertnoy Companies, a luxury home builder in south Florida—stories of three generations from two families working together. We wrote the story using material already printed plus interviews we conducted with the principals and employees; curated photos and gave ideas for supplemental photo shoots; designed and laid out the print and digital versions; arranged for the book to be printed and bound; and then developed a digital presentation of the story. This project includes key stories, a timeline, core values, representative client stories, separate pages for each of the company principals, stories of philanthropy/community service, and perspectives from employees. A key objective was to create a product that would distinguish Shapiro|Pertnoy from its competitors.

 

Page spread from company story

Company-story-example-c-Thumbprint-Books
Client-story-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread from representative client story

 

TESTIMONIAL: “I’m not sure we could have ever found a more capable, creative, easy-to-work-with group to design, write, and produce our corporate story. The process of orchestrating the various stories, players, and photos—and the ultimate production of the book—required tremendous patience, delicate people skills, and a film director’s vision of the end product. Larry and Sylvia have all these talents in spades, and they are two of the most pleasant people you will ever meet. The response to the book has been fantastic. Several folks have told me that they opened it simply to peruse it, yet couldn’t put it down and read every page.” — Steven Shapiro

Employee-perspectives-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread with perspectives from employees

Company-principals-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread about one of the company's principals

Corporate-anniversary-digital-story-c-Thumbprint-Books

or a PDF copy of the printed book

 

CORPORATE ANNIVERSARY PROJECT

The print and digital versions share stories from the first 40 years of Shapiro|Pertnoy Companies, a luxury home builder in south Florida—stories of three generations from two families working together. We wrote the story using material already printed plus interviews we conducted with the principals and employees; curated photos and gave ideas for supplemental photo shoots; designed and laid out the print and digital versions; arranged for the book to be printed and bound; and then developed a digital presentation of the story. This project includes key stories, a timeline, core values, representative client stories, separate pages for each of the company principals, stories of philanthropy/community service, and perspectives from employees. A key objective was to create a product that would distinguish Shapiro|Pertnoy from its competitors.

Corporate-anniversary-printed-book-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksCompany-story-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread from company story

Client-story-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread from representative client story

TESTIMONIAL: “I’m not sure we could have ever found a more capable, creative, easy-to-work-with group to design, write, and produce our corporate story. The process of orchestrating the various stories, players, and photos—and the ultimate production of the book—required tremendous patience, delicate people skills, and a film director’s vision of the end product. Larry and Sylvia have all these talents in spades, and they are two of the most pleasant people you will ever meet. The response to the book has been fantastic. Several folks have told me that they opened it simply to peruse it, yet couldn’t put it down and read every page.” — Steven Shapiro

Company-principals-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread about one of the company's principals

Employee-perspectives-example-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread with perspectives from employees

Corporate-anniversary-digital-story-c-Thumbprint-Books

Explore the digital version that is online
or a PDF copy of the printed book

ARCHITECTURAL SLIPCASE WITH ALUMINUM PANELS

In this project we explored an architectural slipcase that houses: 1) a memoir, 2) aluminum panels on which representative photographs are printed, and 3) a drawer for additional memorabilia. The book has pockets to house memorabilia such as a birth certificate, original photographs, letters and postcards.
Architectural-slipcase-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Book pulled out of architectural slipcase (book cover with brushed aluminum inset)

Book-beside-architectural-slipcase-c-Thumbprint-Books
Book-with-memorabilia-pockets-c-Thumbprint-Books

Book has pockets for memorabilia (e.g., birth certificate, postcards, letters, original photographs)

Photographs printed on hinged panels of brushed aluminum, housed in slipcase


Aluminum-panels-with-printed-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books
SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS (e.g., the memoirist as a baby, toddler, father, businessman, etc.) are printed on 8.5‑inch‑square panels of brushed aluminum that are hinged in three sets, and are housed in a second built-in slipcase. Memorabilia that are too large to fit into envelopes in the book can be stored in a drawer.
 

Photographs printed on hinged panels of brushed aluminum, housed in slipcase


Aluminum-panels-with-printed-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books
SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS (e.g., the memoirist as a baby, toddler, father, businessman, etc.) are printed on 8.5‑inch-square panels of brushed aluminum that are hinged in three sets, and are housed in a second built-in slipcase. Memorabilia that are too large to fit into envelopes in the book can be stored in a drawer.
 
 
Drawer-for-memorabilia-c-Thumbprint-Books

Drawer for memorabilia

Architectural-slipcase-viewed-from-above-c-Thumbprint-Books

Architectural slipcase viewed from above

 
Western-Pacific-Enterprises-50th-Anniversary-Book-c-Thumbprint-Books

COMPANY'S 50th ANNIVERSARY BOOK

As Western Pacific Enterprises—one of Western Canada’s leading electrical contractors—turned 50, it commissioned a record of its first five decades, with a focus on three generations of leadership from two families. Memorable projects. Notable stories. Leadership profiles. Core qualities. We wrote the text based on interviews and material already printed. Together, we chose photos that would illustrate the stories. We designed and laid out the book, and arranged for printing and binding. Since the company is now owned by MYR Group, this book will ensure that Western Pacific’s storied first 50 years will not be forgotten.

 

Three generations of leadership from two families

Three-generations-leadership-from-two-families-Western-Pacific-Enterprises
Employee-centric-family-style-culture-at-Western-Pacific-Enterprises

Employee-centric, family-style culture

 

TESTIMONIAL: “Thanks for the great job you did on this. The book looks fantastic, and will ensure that our history is not forgotten as the company continues to grow and move forward.” — Derek Fettback

Iconic-projects-by-Western-Pacific-Enterprises-in-Western-CanadaIconic-projects-by-Western-Pacific-Enterprises-in-Western-Canada

Iconic projects in Western Canada

 
Leadership-profiles-first-generation-Western-Pacific-Enterprises

Leadership profiles

Western-Pacific-core-qualities

Company's core qualities

 

ARCHITECTURAL SLIPCASE WITH ALUMINUM PANELS

In this project we explored an architectural slipcase that houses: 1) a memoir, 2) aluminum panels on which representative photographs are printed, and 3) a drawer for additional memorabilia. The book has pockets to house memorabilia such as a birth certificate, original photographs, letters and postcards.
Architectural-slipcase-02-c-Thumbprint-BooksBook-beside-architectural-slipcase-c-Thumbprint-Books

Book pulled out of architectural slipcase (book cover with brushed aluminum inset)

Book-with-memorabilia-pockets-c-Thumbprint-Books

Book has pockets for memorabilia (e.g., birth certificate, postcards, letters, original photographs)

SEVEN REPRESENTATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS (e.g., the memoirist as a baby, toddler, father, businessman, etc.) are printed on 8.5‑inch‑square panels of brushed aluminum that are hinged in three sets, and are housed in a second built-in slipcase. Memorabilia that are too large to fit into envelopes in the book can be stored in a drawer.
Aluminum-panels-with-printed-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

Photographs printed on hinged panels of brushed aluminum, housed in slipcase

Drawer-for-memorabilia-c-Thumbprint-Books

Drawer for memorabilia

Architectural-slipcase-viewed-from-above-c-Thumbprint-Books

Architectural slipcase viewed from above

AH-Finch-accordion-book-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

ACCORDION BOOK WITH POCKETS FOR MEMORABILIA

Sylvia inherited an old leather suitcase filled with letters, photos, and memorabilia of her grandfather’s and great grandfather’s lives. Not wanting these to become meaningless curiosities, we selected representative pieces and incorporated them into an “accordion book” of stories, poems, and articles written by or about her grandfather.
 

Accordion book with cover made of cedar shingle with clay chickadee tile inset

AH-Finch-accordion-book-cover-cedar-shingle-with-chickadee-tile-c-Thumbprint-Books
AH-Finch-accordion-book-postcards-during-engagement-c-Thumbprint-Books

Pocket for original postcards mailed while grandpa and grandma were engaged to be married

 

THE BOOK CONTAINS “pockets” to house memorabilia like original letters from World War I, original postcards her grandparents sent to each other during their five‑year engagement, original photographs taken by her great‑grandfather, original birth certificate, and so on. Her grandfather had written three chapters of a memoir, so we included them in the first part of the book. The narrative continues with stories he told (recorded on cassette), information from articles he wrote, and the eulogy his daughter wrote, all tied together by a timeline across the top of each page.


WE INCORPORATED A fold-out family tree. Sylvia's grandfather was a homesteader and a carpenter, so we chose cedar shingles for the covers. He fed chickadees by hand, so Sylvia carved a relief clay tile with a chickadee on it and embedded the tile in the cedar shingle cover. By providing a visual and written context for the family memorabilia, we have made those treasures more accessible to the children, extended family members, and future generations.
 
 

THE BOOK CONTAINS “pockets” to house memorabilia like original letters from World War I, original postcards her grandparents sent to each other during their five‑year engagement, original photographs taken by her great‑grandfather, original birth certificate, and so on. Her grandfather had written three chapters of a memoir, so we included them in the first part of the book. The narrative continues with stories he told (recorded on cassette), information from articles he wrote, and the eulogy his daughter wrote, all tied together by a timeline across the top of each page.


WE INCORPORATED A fold-out family tree. Sylvia's grandfather was a homesteader and a carpenter, so we chose cedar shingles for the covers. He fed chickadees by hand, so Sylvia carved a relief clay tile with a chickadee on it and embedded the tile in the cedar shingle cover. By providing a visual and written context for the family memorabilia, we have made those treasures more accessible to the children, extended family members, and future generations.
 

Pocket for original letters from men who fought in World War I

AH-Finch-accordion-book-letters-from-WWI-c-Thumbprint-Books
AH-Finch-accordion-book-family-tree-c-Thumbprint-Books

Family tree on fold‑out page (10 generations, color coded)

Pocket for original letters from men who fought in World War I

AH-Finch-accordion-book-letters-from-WWI-c-Thumbprint-Books
AH-Finch-accordion-book-family-tree-c-Thumbprint-Books

Family tree on fold‑out page (10 generations, color coded)

 
 
AH-Finch-accordion-book-story-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

The story and photos

 

COMPANY'S 50th ANNIVERSARY BOOK

As Western Pacific Enterprises—one of Western Canada’s leading electrical contractors—turned 50, it commissioned a record of its first five decades, with a focus on three generations of leadership from two families. Memorable projects. Notable stories. Leadership profiles. Core qualities. We wrote the text based on interviews and material already printed. Together, we chose photos that would illustrate the stories. We designed and laid out the book, and arranged for printing and binding. Since the company is now owned by MYR Group, this book will ensure that Western Pacific’s storied first 50 years will not be forgotten.

Western-Pacific-Enterprises-50th-Anniversary-Book-c-Thumbprint-BooksThree-generations-leadership-from-two-families-Western-Pacific-Enterprises

Three generations of leadership from two families

Employee-centric-family-style-culture-at-Western-Pacific-Enterprises

Employee-centric, family-style culture

TESTIMONIAL: “Thanks for the great job you did on this. The book looks fantastic, and will ensure that our history is not forgotten as the company continues to grow and move forward.” — Derek Fettback

Iconic-projects-by-Western-Pacific-Enterprises-in-Western-CanadaIconic-projects-by-Western-Pacific-Enterprises-in-Western-Canada

Iconic projects in Western Canada

Leadership-profiles-first-generation-Western-Pacific-Enterprises

Leadership profiles

Western-Pacific-core-qualities

Company's core qualities

ACCORDION BOOK WITH POCKETS FOR MEMORABILIA

Sylvia inherited an old leather suitcase filled with letters, photos, and memorabilia of her grandfather’s and great grandfather’s lives. Not wanting these to become meaningless curiosities, we selected representative pieces and incorporated them into an “accordion book” of stories, poems, and articles written by or about her grandfather.
AH-Finch-accordion-book-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksAH-Finch-accordion-book-cover-cedar-shingle-with-chickadee-tile-c-Thumbprint-Books

Accordion book with cover made of cedar shingle with clay chickadee tile inset

AH-Finch-accordion-book-postcards-during-engagement-c-Thumbprint-Books

Pocket for original postcards mailed while grandpa and grandma were engaged to be married

THE BOOK CONTAINS “pockets” to house memorabilia like original letters from World War I, original postcards her grandparents sent to each other during their five‑year engagement, original photographs taken by her great‑grandfather, original birth certificate, and so on. Her grandfather had written three chapters of a memoir, so we included them in the first part of the book. The narrative continues with stories he told (recorded on cassette), information from articles he wrote, and the eulogy his daughter wrote, all tied together by a timeline across the top of each page.

AH-Finch-accordion-book-letters-from-WWI-c-Thumbprint-Books

Pocket for original letters from men who fought in World War I

WE INCORPORATED A fold-out family tree. Sylvia's grandfather was a homesteader and a carpenter, so we chose cedar shingles for the covers. He fed chickadees by hand, so Sylvia carved a relief clay tile with a chickadee on it and embedded the tile in the cedar shingle cover. By providing a visual and written context for the family memorabilia, we have made those treasures more accessible to the children, extended family members, and future generations.
AH-Finch-accordion-book-family-tree-c-Thumbprint-Books

Family tree on fold‑out page (10 generations, color coded)

AH-Finch-accordion-book-story-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

The story and photos

HANDBOUND BOOK OF A COUPLE’S POETRY TO EACH OTHER

A couple celebrated their fortieth Valentines Day together by commissioning us to design, print, and hand bind a collection of poems they had written to each other over the years. Scanned photos and memorabilia spanning the forty years provide a backdrop to the poems. The couple each received their own handbound copy customized with a gold-leaf portrait of the other on the cover. (The third copy with the image of them dancing on the cover is for our portfolio.)
Handbound-Poetry-Book-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

The husband's handbound copy has his wife's gold-leaf portrait on the cover

Handbound-Poetry-Book-02-c-Thumbprint-Books
Handbound-Poetry-Book-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

The wife's handbound copy has her husband's gold-leaf portrait on the cover

 

Handbound-Poetry-Book-04-c-Thumbprint-Books

Spine with the book title and authors in gold leaf

TESTIMONIAL: “It is a very special experience to go through the process of putting together a memory book. In our case we made a collection of the poems that my husband and I have written to each other over the 40 years we have been with each other, and selected some lovely photos to accompany them. It was such a pleasure to work with Larry and Sylvia who, apart from being just very dear people, are capable artists with serious computer expertise. They worked hard to create the book we wanted, surprising us with some lovely visual effects and some fun juxtapositions, while at the same time keeping true to what we envisioned. They involved us in the process which meant a number of visits, and an evolution of the project that was really delightful to participate in. Today it is so nice to have the volume in our hands and look through those old memories now enriched with these new memories of making them into a book.” — K. Cowper

Handbound-Poetry-Book-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

The book is a collection of poems the two had written to each other over forty years

 

HANDBOUND BOOK OF A COUPLE’S POETRY TO EACH OTHER

A couple celebrated their fortieth Valentines Day together by commissioning us to design, print, and hand bind a collection of poems they had written to each other over the years. Scanned photos and memorabilia spanning the forty years provide a backdrop to the poems. The couple each received their own handbound copy customized with a gold-leaf portrait of the other on the cover. (The third copy with the image of them dancing on the cover is for our portfolio.)
Handbound-Poetry-Book-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksHandbound-Poetry-Book-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

The husband's handbound copy has his wife's gold-leaf portrait on the cover

Handbound-Poetry-Book-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

The wife's handbound copy has her husband's gold-leaf portrait on the cover

TESTIMONIAL: “It is a very special experience to go through the process of putting together a memory book. In our case we made a collection of the poems that my husband and I have written to each other over the 40 years we have been with each other, and selected some lovely photos to accompany them. It was such a pleasure to work with Larry and Sylvia who, apart from being just very dear people, are capable artists with serious computer expertise. They worked hard to create the book we wanted, surprising us with some lovely visual effects and some fun juxtapositions, while at the same time keeping true to what we envisioned. They involved us in the process which meant a number of visits, and an evolution of the project that was really delightful to participate in. Today it is so nice to have the volume in our hands and look through those old memories now enriched with these new memories of making them into a book.” — K. Cowper

Handbound-Poetry-Book-04-c-Thumbprint-Books

Spine with the book title and authors in gold leaf

Handbound-Poetry-Book-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

The book is a collection of poems the two had written to each other over forty years

Sailboat-books-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

SAILBOAT LOG AND PHOTOS

To commemorate a family’s journey by sailboat from South Africa to Canada, we shaped excerpts from their sailing journal/log and photographs into two volumes trimmed to look like sails. Even a quick glance at the books evokes memories of that trip. Holding and paging through the triangular books creates a unique tactile experience as you read about their adventures. The books are displayed on a base of blue glass to suggest the ocean.
 

Sailboat Log and Photos (detail)

Sailboat-books-03-c-Thumbprint-Books
Sailboat-books-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sailboat Log and Photos (2 Volumes) on blue glass base

 
Sailboat-books-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads from Sailboat Log and Photos


 

SAILBOAT LOG AND PHOTOS

To commemorate a family’s journey by sailboat from South Africa to Canada, we shaped excerpts from their sailing journal/log and photographs into two volumes trimmed to look like sails. Even a quick glance at the books evokes memories of that trip. Holding and paging through the triangular books creates a unique tactile experience as you read about their adventures. The books are displayed on a base of blue glass to suggest the ocean.
Sailboat-books-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksSailboat-books-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sailboat Log and Photos (detail)

Sailboat-books-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sailboat Log and Photos (2 Volumes) on blue glass base

Sailboat-books-04-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sailboat Log and Photos (2 Volumes) on blue glass base

Sailboat-books-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads from Sailboat Log and Photos

BOOK OF VIGNETTES AND PHOTOS

Instead of telling your life story, you might want to focus on a set of shorter stories. For example, we worked on a book of 28 vignettes (short, one‑page accounts of vivid memories). We designed this book with vignettes on right hand pages and representative photographs opposite, supplementing the person’s photographs with stock photographs where required.
Spine-inset-in-plinth-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

Story (vignette) on right with photo on left

Book-of-vignettes-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books
Sample-pages-Book-of-vignettes-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads in the book

 

Spine-inset-in-plinth-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Inserting the spine of the book into the plinth

INSTEAD OF BINDING the book traditionally, we set the spine in a plinth so the book can be displayed on a coffee table. In this example the plinth is made of handmade paper over cover board. But it could be made out of marble, wood, metal, or whatever material you want. The simple structure gives a zen‑like quality to the book, a counterpoint to the strong emotions of the vignettes.
Sample-vignette-c-Thumbprint-Books

Detail of one vignette with accompanying photograph

 

BOOK OF VIGNETTES AND PHOTOS

Instead of telling your life story, you might want to focus on a set of shorter stories. For example, we worked on a book of 28 vignettes (short, one‑page accounts of vivid memories). We designed this book with vignettes on right hand pages and representative photographs opposite, supplementing the person’s photographs with stock photographs where required.
Spine-inset-in-plinth-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksBook-of-vignettes-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

Story (vignette) on right with photo on left

Sample-pages-Book-of-vignettes-and-photos-c-Thumbprint-Books

Sample page spreads in the book

INSTEAD OF BINDING the book traditionally, we set the spine in a plinth so the book can be displayed on a coffee table. In this example the plinth is made of handmade paper over cover board. But it could be made out of marble, wood, metal, or whatever material you want. The simple structure gives a zen‑like quality to the book, a counterpoint to the strong emotions of the vignettes.
Spine-inset-in-plinth-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Inserting the spine of the book into the plinth

Sample-vignette-c-Thumbprint-Books

Detail of one vignette with accompanying photograph

Above-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-title-c-Thumbprint-Books

ART BOOK OF MOUNTAIN SKETCHES AND STORIES

This book features the drawings of an artist and forest serviceman who had hiked and sketched the Olympic, Cascade, and Coastal Mountains in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. His over-sized art pieces were scanned for reproduction; he wrote the context and reminiscences for each piece, and asked us to design and lay out the book, ready for on-demand printing. Generous white space directs the viewer’s attention to the exquisite drawings, giving them the prominence they deserve.
 

Page spread with mountain sketch and description

Above-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-02-c-Thumbprint-Books
Above-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

Two-page sketch in Above the Salish Sea

 

TESTIMONIAL: “Doing a book was a totally new experience for me, and the book’s design presented a daunting and stressful challenge. But Larry and Sylvia Adams, the talented and friendly couple who form Thumbprint Books, put me at ease with their expertise and their helpful approach. Larry’s design sense and proficiency with computer graphics meant that several layouts could be considered in a short time, and the best option chosen. I feel fortunate to have had them and their creative services readily available for this endeavour.” — D. Hamilton


Above-the-Salish-Sea-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spreads with sketches and descriptions in Above the Salish Sea

 

ART BOOK OF MOUNTAIN SKETCHES AND STORIES

This book features the drawings of an artist and forest serviceman who had hiked and sketched the Olympic, Cascade, and Coastal Mountains in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. His over-sized art pieces were scanned for reproduction; he wrote the context and reminiscences for each piece, and asked us to design and lay out the book, ready for on-demand printing. Generous white space directs the viewer’s attention to the exquisite drawings, giving them the prominence they deserve.
Above-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksAbove-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-02-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spread with mountain sketch and description

Above-Salish-Sea-Hamilton-03-c-Thumbprint-Books

Two-page sketch in Above the Salish Sea

TESTIMONIAL: “Doing a book was a totally new experience for me, and the book’s design presented a daunting and stressful challenge. But Larry and Sylvia Adams, the talented and friendly couple who form Thumbprint Books, put me at ease with their expertise and their helpful approach. Larry’s design sense and proficiency with computer graphics meant that several layouts could be considered in a short time, and the best option chosen. I feel fortunate to have had them and their creative services readily available for this endeavour.” — D. Hamilton

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Page spreads with sketches and descriptions in Above the Salish Sea

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Page spread with mountain sketch and description

MEMOIR WITH THREE DIFFERENT BINDINGS

A daughter commissioned us to create a memoir for her parents who were in their 80s. Eight hours of interviews and over 300 photographs captured the story of both parents. The mother, who had Alzheimer’s, read and re‑read the highlights of her and her husband’s life, athletic accomplishments, marriage, career, family, friends, retirement, and travels. The memoir was an anchor for her and her husband, one of their most precious possessions. For ease of handling, we bound their copy by hand into three volumes with a slipcase. For their children, we bound the memoir into single volumes with slipcases. For our portfolio, we bound the memoir into a fold-out book with slipcase to reflect the idea of a life unfolding in stages.
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Fold-out memoir in slipcase

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Opening the fold-out memoir (stage 1)

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Opening the fold-out memoir (stage 2)

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Fold-out memoir with first two panels open

 

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Single-volume memoir with slipcase or box case

TESTIMONIAL: “I can look at all the people I love very much. It’s a reminder of our younger days, our youth. It even reminds me of what I used to look like! It gives me a very good warm feeling looking through it. We are thrilled to have our book.” — B. & P. Fee, and S. Allan
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Three-volume memoir in slipcase

 

MEMOIR WITH THREE DIFFERENT BINDINGS

A daughter commissioned us to create a memoir for her parents who were in their 80s. Eight hours of interviews and over 300 photographs captured the story of both parents. The mother, who had Alzheimer’s, read and re‑read the highlights of her and her husband’s life, athletic accomplishments, marriage, career, family, friends, retirement, and travels. The memoir was an anchor for her and her husband, one of their most precious possessions. For ease of handling, we bound their copy by hand into three volumes with a slipcase. For their children, we bound the memoir into single volumes with slipcases. For our portfolio, we bound the memoir into a fold-out book with slipcase to reflect the idea of a life unfolding in stages.
Fold-out-memoir-title-c-Thumbprint-BooksFold-out-memoir-in-slipcase-c-Thumbprint-Books

Fold-out memoir in slipcase

Fold-out-memoir-opens-01-c-Thumbprint-Books

Opening the fold-out memoir (stage 1)

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Opening the fold-out memoir (stage 2)

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Fold-out memoir with first two panels open

TESTIMONIAL: “I can look at all the people I love very much. It’s a reminder of our younger days, our youth. It even reminds me of what I used to look like! It gives me a very good warm feeling looking through it. We are thrilled to have our book.” — B. & P. Fee, and S. Allan
Single-volume-memoir-in-slipcase-c-Thumbprint-Books

Single-volume memoir with slipcase or box case

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Three-volume memoir in slipcase

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FAMILY PHOTO BOOK IN SLIPCASE ON WALL

Photos spanning six generations were scanned and put into a book as a Christmas gift for two delighted 90‑year‑old aunts, prompting the extended family to order their own copies! For one copy we created a slipcase covered in a canvas print of a photo of their father who loved to feed chickadees. A second photo was also printed on stretched canvas. Now both canvas photos hang on the wall—it’s just that one of them is the slipcase housing the book as art.
 

Book of family photos—from 6 generations!

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Some memorabilia scanned and included in photo book

 
TESTIMONIAL: “What a wonderful photo book. Since you enlarged my old photos, I can see details I have never seen before! I show this book to all my friends.” — B. Finch (age 90)
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Slipcase for photo book—the slipcase can be hung on the wall as book art


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Two canvas prints on wall—the left one is the slipcase with the book in it

 

FAMILY PHOTO BOOK IN SLIPCASE ON WALL

Photos spanning six generations were scanned and put into a book as a Christmas gift for two delighted 90‑year‑old aunts, prompting the extended family to order their own copies! For one copy we created a slipcase covered in a canvas print of a photo of their father who loved to feed chickadees. A second photo was also printed on stretched canvas. Now both canvas photos hang on the wall—it’s just that one of them is the slipcase housing the book as art.
Family-photo-book-in-slipcase-on-wall-c-Thumbprint-BooksFamily-photo-books-c-Thumbprint-Books

Book of family photos—from 6 generations!

Scans-of-memorabilia-included-in-book-c-Thumbprint-Books

Some memorabilia scanned and included in photo book

TESTIMONIAL: “What a wonderful photo book. Since you enlarged my old photos, I can see details I have never seen before! I show this book to all my friends.” — B. Finch (age 90)
Book-pulled-out-of-canvas-slipcase-c-Thumbprint-Books

Slipcase for photo book—the slipcase can be hung on the wall as book art

Two-canvas-prints-on-wall-one-is-slipcase-with-book-c-Thumbprint-Books

Two canvas prints on wall—the left one is the slipcase with the book in it

AUTOBIOGRAPHY — HARDCOVER AND SOFTCOVER

Ned Gilbert—a geologist, landman, consultant, and educator at the University of Calgary—wrote his autobiography with the help of David Finch, a historian in Calgary. We were responsible for designing and laying out the book; collecting, scanning, and preparing photographs for publication; arranging for copy edit, index, and proofreading; and arranging for printing by Friesens Corporation, a leading Canadian printer. 260 softcover copies and 50 hardcover copies with dustjackets were printed.
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Sample page spreads in Ned Gilbert's autobiography

TESTIMONIAL: “As an author of dozens of books, I found collaborating with Thumbprint Books to be very pleasant. It is an excellent company. From concept, to editing, to design to dealing with the minutiae of proofs and delivery, the team is very professional and makes the publishing process seamless and rewarding.” — David Finch, Historian
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Dustjacket for the hardcover edition

 

AUTOBIOGRAPHY — HARDCOVER AND SOFTCOVER

Ned Gilbert—a geologist, landman, consultant, and educator at the University of Calgary—wrote his autobiography with the help of David Finch, a historian in Calgary. We were responsible for designing and laying out the book; collecting, scanning, and preparing photographs for publication; arranging for copy edit, index, and proofreading; and arranging for printing by Friesens Corporation, a leading Canadian printer. 260 softcover copies and 50 hardcover copies with dustjackets were printed.
Gilbert-autobiography-c-Thumbprint-BooksGilbert-autobiography-dustjacket-c-Thumbprint-Books

Dustjacket for the hardcover edition

TESTIMONIAL: “As an author of dozens of books, I found collaborating with Thumbprint Books to be very pleasant. It is an excellent company. From concept, to editing, to design to dealing with the minutiae of proofs and delivery, the team is very professional and makes the publishing process seamless and rewarding.” — David Finch, Historian
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Sample page spreads in Ned Gilbert's autobiography

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SLIPCASE WITH FOLDOUT PANELS

For a copy of the same photo book described in Family Photo Book in Slipcase on Wall, we created a custom slipcase with panels that fold out to highlight favourite photographs and two excerpts from a written piece by the aunts’ father. We designed and printed the ten-generation family tree on three of the back panels. The panels fold in, and a magnetized flap holds them shut.

 
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Foldout slipcase ready to be opened

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Foldout slipcase being opened

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Foldout slipcase being opened further

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Book being pulled out of foldout slipcase

 
TESTIMONIAL: “What a wonderful photo book. Since you enlarged my old photos, I can see details I have never seen before! I show this book to all my friends.” — B. Finch (age 90)
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Back of foldout slipcase (shows family tree)


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Book open in front of foldout slipcase

 

SLIPCASE WITH FOLDOUT PANELS

For a copy of the same photo book described in "Family Photo Book in Slipcase on Wall" above, we created a custom slipcase with panels that fold out to highlight favourite photographs and two excerpts from a written piece by the aunts’ father. We designed and printed the ten-generation family tree on three of the back panels. The panels fold in, and a magnetized flap holds them shut.

Slipcase-foldout-panels-c-Thumbprint-BooksSlipcase-foldout-panels-01-c-Thumbprint-Books

Foldout slipcase ready to be opened

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Foldout slipcase being opened

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Foldout slipcase being opened further

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Book being pulled out of foldout slipcase

TESTIMONIAL: “What a wonderful photo book. Since you enlarged my old photos, I can see details I have never seen before! I show this book to all my friends.” — B. Finch (age 90)
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Book open in front of foldout slipcase

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Back of foldout slipcase (shows family tree)

DONOR’S STORY COMMISSIONED BY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

DONOR’S STORY COMMISSIONED BY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Bowen Island Community Foundation wanted to honour a significant donation by Maggie Cumming. The Foundation provided us with Maggie’s story and some photographs. We located additional photographs from the local museum, and provided supplemental photographs of walking trails and Bowen Island’s natural environment to illustrate Maggie’s intent for a portion of her bequest. We laid out the book and did the pre‑press so that copies could be made available from an on‑demand printer at a reasonable price (at the time of the first printing the book could be purchased for $58 for the colour hardcover edition, and $16 for the colour paperback edition, not including taxes or shipping). The book continues to be available for purchase on the Foundation’s website.

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Page spreads from Maggie's Story

TESTIMONIAL: “It was a complete pleasure working with Sylvia and Larry Adams of Thumbprint Books. They had accepted the challenge of creating a book that captured the spirit of Maggie Cumming’s life story. The Bowen Island Community Foundation had received a major bequest from her, and the book was a way of honouring her life, her love of Bowen, and her generosity. Sylvia and Larry were personable, enthusiastic, professional, detailed, creative, and meticulous. Their knowledge of the production process and the costs were immense attributes to the success of the project. I hope another opportunity comes along for me to work with them.” — Joyce Ganong, Past Chair of the Bowen Island Community Foundation

 

DONOR’S STORY COMMISSIONED BY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

The Bowen Island Community Foundation wanted to honour a significant donation by Maggie Cumming. The Foundation provided us with Maggie’s story and some photographs. We located additional photographs from the local museum, and provided supplemental photographs of walking trails and Bowen Island’s natural environment to illustrate Maggie’s intent for a portion of her bequest. We laid out the book and did the pre‑press so that copies could be made available from an on‑demand printer at a reasonable price (at the time of the first printing the book could be purchased for $58 for the colour hardcover edition, and $16 for the colour paperback edition, not including taxes or shipping). The book continues to be available for purchase on the Foundation’s website.

Maggies-Story-c-Thumbprint-BooksMaggies-story-page-spreads-c-Thumbprint-Books

Page spreads from Maggie's Story

TESTIMONIAL: “It was a complete pleasure working with Sylvia and Larry Adams of Thumbprint Books. They had accepted the challenge of creating a book that captured the spirit of Maggie Cumming’s life story. The Bowen Island Community Foundation had received a major bequest from her, and the book was a way of honouring her life, her love of Bowen, and her generosity. Sylvia and Larry were personable, enthusiastic, professional, detailed, creative, and meticulous. Their knowledge of the production process and the costs were immense attributes to the success of the project. I hope another opportunity comes along for me to work with them.” — Joyce Ganong, Past Chair of the Bowen Island Community Foundation

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Page spreads from Maggie's Story