book review: the pocket paper engineer
The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step
A brilliant book which explains in detail how to make popups. Starting with a short history into paper engineering and the mechanics of how to make 3D forms come alive. The simple concept of a pop up delights everyone. From the easiest of folds to the more complicated constructs with layered movement that pulls out from the page when opened.
Its a must to start at the begining of this book, as all materials and directions are neatly explained. The language is aimed at a young audience, but this is great when introducing precise techniques needed to make pop-ups work. The design of the book, with its oversized portrait DL layout and
spiral bind gives the reader the feeling they are entering into a great hands-on instruction manual rather than a sit in bed under the covers kinda book.
Infact, the foldouts, and card pockets (which contain illustrations to cut out) make this book the kind you sit at the craft table with. Its neatly organised chapters (triangles, squares, variations etc) are neatly tabbed giving the whole book a real scrap-booky feel. I did get lost occasionally, as the page numbers get hidden in the folds and it would have been good to include a few 3D examples, although the illustrations are very precise.
It is a book designed to teach the techniques of pop-ups and then armed with this new knowledge and skill, the reader is invited to explore their imagination. Enjoy the adventures!
Author website: popular kinetics
About the reviewer: Heather is a designer, film maker and generally crafty creative person. She loves to invite her friends round for a craft jam and craft-a-noon - and has a website which she occasionally updates with her adventures and experiments in design.
February 9th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I may have to check that one out. It looks interesting and I do love playing with paper. I wanted to tell you at Whip Up that I could not read this blog at work. I can read every single other one that I want to. Yesterday I finally figured out why. “Whip.” The web censor thingy must see the word whip and think I am going to some website I ought not go to. hehehe.
February 9th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Ah yes, the automatic censor…too funny…must stop frequenting these S&M sites.
As for the pocket paper engineer - it sounds like just the instruction manual I was looking for! The fact that it is aimed at young people and, thus, assumes that the reader is a beginner, is perfect. Thanks for the review.