Publishing students visit Hobbs the Printers

MA student Aleksandra Wolenska writes about a recent visit by her class to Hobbs the Printers:

On a sunny Thursday morning, fourteen MA Publishing students from Oxford Brookes gathered outside the Sports Centre at Headington Campus. We then set off in a minibus, driven by our lecturer Adrian Bullock, to visit Hobbs the Printers in Totton near Southampton – we were excited to be going to see a place where words turn into a printed book. We were given a warm welcome by Brian Jeff and Colin Richardson, and once divided into two groups, the tour began. ...

We were given information about the history of Hobbs, and introduced to the printing carried out by the company: they have machines capable of printing in both monochrome and colour – from two up to six colours. They explained how the orders are accepted and marked, also how the paper and printing methods are chosen, and what the difference is between digital and lithographic printing (both widely used by Hobbs). We were shown the printing process from the very beginning, when the files are received, through setting the parameters on the computers in the press rooms until the end, when a still warm book comes out of the machine in a variety of bindings: sewn, glued or slotted.

At the end of the visit the guests were given samples of printed work. They left the building fascinated by what they saw, richer in knowledge and eager to use it, first in the classroom and later in practice. Before returning to Oxford, Adrian drove the hungry and a little tired future publishers to a local pub. There we ate fish and chips and there was much conversation about what we had seen. High in spirits we made our way back to Headington. All in all it was a highly successful and enjoyable day.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 18 Oct 2010 around 10pm

Filed Under #Publishing