Design Decision: Chemise

The elected proposal for The Tale of Sinuhe includes a chemise.

Griffin has suggested that we drop the chemise for two reasons:

1. It is "Functionally unnecessary... Since it's a hardbound book, it can live safe and sound in the slipcase alone."

2. It is expensive. The chemise will cost $90 per book, according to Alanna Simenson's quote. These funds could be allocated elsewhere. For example, more multi-color printing, or simply as a financial buffer to ensure the project's success.

Per the Consensus Press rules:

Major decisions will be made by vote of the membership

So, it's up to you:

Yes, dump the chemise. A nice piece of bling, but not really necessary. And yes, I did vote 'Yes.'

I voted yes, but I'm a little confused. Having already paid for the book, does that include the chemise at $90? Will we be refunded that money should the membership decide to divest ourselves of our collective chemise (rawr!)? If not, is there a chance we're asked to contribute more later in order to cover extra costs?

>3 gmacaree: The cost of the chemise is included in the price. If the chemise is removed, that money can be allocated elsewhere in the edition or remain as leftover funds at the end. If there are leftover funds, the membership will decide what to do with them.

Two points of clarification:

1. The cost of the chemise is $90 in Canadian dollars (i.e. ninety loonies). So, it's a bit less in normal dollars erm I mean USD.

2. The financial success of the edition is guaranteed with the current funding. Literally every part of the production process has been quoted (even shipment from points A to B, B to C, C to D...) and is accounted for. There are no mysteries as to what this will cost to produce. And the per book price already includes a fifteen percent "just in case" buffer.

Removing the chemise will almost certainly ensure there's some leftover funding. What we do with that should be voted on. It could be refunded, forwarded to the next edition, donated to charity – whatever.

For what it's worth, I would vote to remove the chemise even with no cost implication. I think it's totally unnecessary for the design of this book.

I voted to drop it, but I suppose if anyone felt strongly about a protective measure between the book and slipcase, might a tissue paper wrap suffice? I've seen books which employed those to good effect, though I find it a bit fiddly to deal with. It does protect, and considerably cheaper than the quoted chemise would.

Is the slipcase velour lined?

>7 kdweber: I would hope not! That is a trap for dirt and small debris which can scratch the dickens out of the cover. I know some people like such linings, but I can't really recommend them myself.

>4 consensuspress: >5 grifgon: Thanks for the clarification :)

>4 consensuspress: Where else in the edition could the excess funds conceivably be allocated? Paper upgrade? Vellum spine instead of buckram?

>10 kermaier: Vellum would muck up the design concept, but a paper upgrade might be one avenue.

Could the money be used to print the notes in the margins in the second colour (I'm thinking of the Ashendene Thucydides for example)?

>12 EdmundRodriguez: I like that idea

>12 EdmundRodriguez: >13 ultrarightist: I certainly like the idea of dedicated the extra funds to the layout itself (e.g. more multicolor printing) but marginal notation may not be the right choice. The gorgeous Ashendene Thucydides has a justified text block, which marginal notes can sit snuggly against. The Tale of Sinuhe is lineated poetry, so marginal notes may not look quite as nice on the rectos. Maybe footnotes instead?

>12 EdmundRodriguez: I considered that originally, but rejected it as being unsuitable to this text.

I'm confused as to why we were asked to pay for the chemise only to have it not be recommended days later? Especially for something that costs CAD$90, a full 21% of the entire budget (correct me if my math is off), it feels like a flag should have gone up pretty quickly.

>16 CTPress-Tony: Reed reached out a few days ago asking Richard, Mark, and I if there were any design changes we think should be put to a vote. I suggested this one. I agree that it would be better to have done it before ordering began, but everybody behind the scenes is volunteering and doing their best. Anybody who wants to volunteer themselves to help make things run more smoothly on the back end is welcome!

>17 grifgon: "Anybody who wants to volunteer themselves to help make things run more smoothly on the back end is welcome!"

Email incoming.

>14 grifgon: Footnotes in a secondary color seems aesthetically odd to me, so I am not in favor of it. Perhaps instead put the extra money into a paper upgrade. Alternatively, would a map be appropriate to this text? If so, perhaps allocate the money accordingly.