Below are a few essential books and magazines I recommend for us print folk. Click on the image or title to order direct from Amazon, right now.
Designers
in Handcuffs
This book, released in March 2003, includes a few pointers on maximizing your
print budget contributed by yours truly! A good reference for overcoming the
"can't do's" put on designers by Corporate Identity restrictions,
budget limitations, and other obstacles we face in design.
Graphic
Artists Guild Handbook
A great all-around business guide for the graphic artist. Includes sample
contracts and standard practices in design, print, and subcontracting.
Process
Color Manual, 24,000 CMYK Combinations
Want to see what that spot color would look like in CMYK? Want to look at
a swatch and instantly know how to build the color in Quark? This book of
process-built squares will give you all the info you need at a fraction of
the price of a Pantone spot-to-process book. Great for selecting complimentary
colors.
Pantone
Guide to Communicating with Color
Another good color resource, a la those PMS folks.
Communication
Arts
The quintessential design magazine. Get it.
How
Magazine
Great all-around how-to design magazine, something for all skill levels.
I.D.
Magazine
Slightly loftier, more theoretical, good, clean modern design in practice.
Great articles.
