Stripe Press

Check out the cover for our next book, Get Together, by @people_and_co, designed by @tyler_thompson. It's a book about bringing people together and we wanted a cover that reflected the warmth of communities and their leaders. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how we got there.pic.twitter.com/SW9ao9Yv9p

We started with the color yellow because it’s warm, inviting, and bold. Coincidentally, @tyler_thompson, @baileyelaine, and @kevinhuynh showed up to our first brainstorm wearing yellow. We took it as a sign that we were on the right track.pic.twitter.com/GVQrFwYlhE

We opted for a three-color gradient with the yellow color of the paper as one end of the gradient, orange in the middle, and red on the other end.pic.twitter.com/ApfvQoPbsA

When choosing a color for the orange and red inks, we had to consider how that color would change when printed on yellow paper. You can see here how the fluorescent orange and red Pantone chips end up much darker colors when printed on the yellow paper.pic.twitter.com/4iDSbdVyV9

Next, we determined what pre-press settings would achieve the most vibrant gradient. We found that a 175 line-screen with some of Adobe InDesign’s gradient feather tools gave us the smoothest fade and avoided color banding. The image shows the progression in our testing.pic.twitter.com/ebBJUW64fz

Next, we explored options for layering a pattern and/or text on the gradient. Ultimately, we felt like we lost the striking impact of the gradient by covering it up. So, we opted for a very simple cover treatment with a small amount of text that would allow the gradient to shine.pic.twitter.com/mmZWnpmCTN

Next, we focused on the title text. We used the Bradford Black typeface and kerned it in tight so all the letters created a snug, close-knit feeling. For even more emphasis on the type, we planned to experiment with foiling and debossing.pic.twitter.com/qLAJDOcyUO