The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step [Hardcover-spiral]

Carol Barton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Elegant and accessible, this interactive handbook teaches crafters of all ages how to create kinetic paper art. The projects are complete with examples, formulas, and the essential instruction that allows them to be constructed directly from the book with simple materials on hand: paper, scissors, and glue. Pop-ups are grouped by type—box or triangle—and as the chapters progress, the techniques are combined and layered for more dramatic effects. With its thorough explanations and inspiring ideas, this book will bring color and motion to crafters’ cards, scrapbooks, and invitations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Carol Barton's pop-up workbook is glorious! Unique and delightfully playful, her work continues the time-honored tradition of movables in books."  —Robert Sabuda, author, Winter's Tale: An Original Pop-Up Journey

"Most of the examples focus on grown-up uses for popups—effective presentations and so on—but it's really easy to see how you could use this with kids (or friends) to make wicked-cool art."  —BoingBoing.net

From the Publisher

This book is the first of three volumes that will be published on the art of "paper engineering" or how to make pop-ups. It introduces the subject by describing how pop-ups move, and what tools and materials are needed for their creation. Readers who have limited 3-dimensional design experience will appreciate the interactive, hands-on approach adapted by the author, who has taught the subject to people of all ages. Starting with the simplest cut-and-fold box and triangle forms, each project builds on the prior one in developing a knowledge base of pop-up formats. The book is filled with full-color photos of finished projects, sample ideas, and drawings of each step of the construction process. The book is hard-bound, with a matte varnish on the cover that resists dirt and moisture, and an inner spiral binding that allows the book to lie open flat while in use as an instruction manual.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover-spiral: 67 pages
• Publisher: Popular Kinetics Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962775207
• ISBN-13: 978-0962775208
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,586 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carol Barton is a book artist and paper engineer known for her how-to books and classes on making pop-ups and sculptural books. She is on the faculty at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and holds workshops and lectures at art and education centers across the U.S. and internationally. She curated the Smithsonian Institution's show "Science and the Artist's Book," and her illustrations were featured in National Geographic's article "Zip Code: 20812, It's Only a Paper Moon." Her artist editions are included in collections around the world, including the Getty Museum, New York MOMA, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Paper art for all, July 22, 2006

By 

www.frontstreetreviews.com "Front Street Reviews" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step (Hardcover-spiral)

Carol Barton has created the ultimate instruction book for anyone who is would like to learn to use pop-ups in their creative work- and there may be more of you than you think. The potential for the use of pop-ups becomes limitless with the information from this guide.

Moveable books is not a new art. But this book takes the art form of pop-ups into the realm of possibilities. It begins with basic structures and progresses in nice, slow steps into complex, multi-layered pop-ups. It is the gift of the author to be able to describe and explain each step so that even beginners can follow easily. From basic box shapes it continues through triangles (including doubles and upside down), combinations of both and onto many different layered designs. Each step includes a pattern with all the spare parts needed that the reader/artist can use to make that pop-up card. This hands-on approach is what sets it above other instruction books of this kind. It is also possible to order a complete set of these samples if you do not want to cut up the ones in the book. Each chapter has a pocket to hold both the spare parts and the finished card. Very clever. Introductory chapters describe how pop-ups work, basic supply lists and hints to further creativity, final chapters examine safety and suppliers and the importance of paper grain. Well chosen quotes adorn each manila chapter divider.

The Pocket Paper Engineer is concrete enough to walk anyone thorough the steps of making a pop-up card but it also gives clear, concise instructions to enable the reader to take the information onto any level they desire. It stretches the imagination in many directions as it expands the journey from flat creations into three dimensional art.

This spiral bound work would be a wonderful gift for authors, card makers, scrap bookers and other visual artists. It is appropriate for both beginners and advanced paper crafters and artists. Its sturdy construction will allow it to become a permanent reference book in any collection. We can look forward to the future since this in Volume I in a planned series of how to books on this subject.

For added wonder be sure to follow the author link below to explore Ms Barton's other work as she expands the traditional boundaries of literature. Fascinating for both art and literature lovers.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Pop-Up Reference Book, May 29, 2006

By 

A. Borloz (Metropolitan Area - NJ/NY/CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step (Hardcover-spiral)

This is more than a "how-to-do" book - it has several examples for the readers to try out the techniques & principles. And it has pockets to store them. I think it's a great idea that extra packets of examples are provided at extra cost in case you made a mistake or don't want to use the ones already in the book. It also will give us (especially pop-up book collectors and artists) a greater appreciation and understanding of how the pop-up books are designed and created. What makes this book even more interesting and entertaining are the quotes placed on different pages relating to creative endeavors. But the bottom line is that it's a great reference guide for any future pop-up book projects!

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too Simplistic for the Truly Inquisitive, February 15, 2008

By 

P. Gonyea "Paul in SF" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pocket Paper Engineer, Volume I: Basic Forms: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step (Hardcover-spiral)

Of the several how-to books I own on creating & designing pop-ups, this book disappointed me.
The vast majority is devoted to what is basically one pop-up technique, and the author gives numerous variations on that one type of pop-up as if each were entirely different. Yes, this book is simple & easy to use... great for those who want to play a bit -- or people who work with kids.
For true pop-up explorers however, pop-up mechanisms such as floating layers, scenery flats, boxes, etc. are not included in this book. To really dig into the subject of pop-ups and paper engineering, look elsewhere.