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Sneak Peek!
The manufacturing of a pop-up book: Encyclopedia Prehistorica – Dinosaurs!
Please note: To view these clips you must have Quicktime on your computer. CLICK HERE to download it now!

PRINTING
The process of producing a pop-up book begins when the creative work is done. After Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda have completed all the paper engineering and finished artwork for Dinosaurs, the printing process begins. The sheets are printed on a traditional printing press. Color accuracy is checked by pulling off a random sheet from the press and comparing it to an approved sheet from Robert and Matthew.
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DIE MAKING
A large jig saw is used to create the first part of what is called a die. The die will be used to cut all the pop-up pieces out of the printed sheet. The jig saw operator carefully follows the outlines of each pop-up piece design as it cuts through a large, flat block of wood.
In a nearby room, thin strips of sharp metal are curved in a vice to match all the shapes that have been cut into the die. When the die maker gets a perfect match, he carefully pounds the metal into the block of wood until only a small portion is showing. This portion is very sharp and can cut through 100,000 printed sheets before it is too dull to be used anymore.
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DIE CUTTING
The die is placed on a press and the printed sheets pass over it, one at a time, and are firmly slammed onto it. The sharp metal pieces in the die cut through the sheet leaving the pop-up pieces almost completely removed. Since the die doesn't completely cut out the pieces (or they would get all jammed up in the press) they have to be removed by hand.
CLICK HERE to watch this video!
SCRAPPING
Wearing white gloves to keep the pop-ups clean, the scrappers remove all the excess paper that surrounds the pieces. By removing many pieces at once, the job goes much faster. To remove very small pieces of paper from the pop-ups, screwdrivers and pliers are used to make the scrapping easier.
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HAND ASSEMBLY: PART 1
After all the pieces are scrapped out, the hand assembly begins. Each assembler is responsible for only one task throughout the entire hand production of the book. The assembler makes any necessary folds to the piece, applies glue and then hands it to the next assembler.
CLICK HERE to watch PART 1!
HAND ASSEMBLY: Part 2
When the pop-up pieces themselves are completed they are then carefully inserted and glued into the pages.
CLICK HERE to watch PART 2!
BINDING
The covers of the book are glued onto the hard covers by machine but a person still must glue all the combined pop-up pages (now called a "signature") into the book. Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs is finished!
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Sneak Peek Archive!
October 2006 - Christmas pop-up book
September 2006 - Jungle Book
August 2006 - Castle - Medieval Days & Knights
July 2006 - Castle - Medieval Days & Knights
June 2006 - Castle - Medieval Days & Knights
May 2006 - Pratt pop-up Part 9
March 2006 - Maurice Sendak and Robert's Mommy!
January 2006 - Pratt pop-up Part 8
January 2006 - Robert & Matthew's Sharks!
October 2006 - Christmas pop-up book
September 2006 - Jungle Book
May 2006 - Castle - Medieval Days & Knights
May 2006 - Pratt pop-up Part 9
March 2006 - Maurice Sendak and Robert's Mommy!
January 2006 - Pratt pop-up Part 8
January 2006 - Robert and Matthew's Sharks!
October 2005 - Making Dinosaurs videoclips
October 2005 - Pratt pop-up Part 7
September 2005 - Castles
August 2005 - Cinderella!
August 2005 - Derby Day
May 2005 - Pocket Engineer
May 2005 - Pratt pop-up Part 6
April 2005 - Pratt pop-up Part 5
April 2005 - Winter's Tale
March 2005 - Pratt pop-up Part 4
February 2005 - Celebration Sold Out!
December 2004 - Pratt pop-up Part 3
December 2004 - Dinosaur
December 2004 - Pratt pop-up Part 3
October 2004 - Hanukkah Treat
October 2004 - It's Alive
September 2004 - Alphabet Mouse
September 2004 - Celebration
August 2004 - 2004 Ornaments
July 2004 - MBS "Celebration"
May 2004 - Robert's "America" Part 2
April 2004 - Pratt pop-up Part 2
April 2004 - Robert's "America"
April 2004 - Egg Auction
March 2004 - Pratt pop-up
February 2004 - OZ T-shirts
January 2004 - MBS Anniversary book
December 2003 - Making Alice
December 2003 - Robert & Matthew on TV
October 2003 - Alice Deluxe Edition
September 2003: MOMA Holiday cards
August 2003: Alice dolls
July 2003: Insect-lo-pedia,
Meet the artist Matthew Reinhart
June 2003: Pop-up flowers
May 2003: Alice in Wonderland
April 2003: Gallery opening, More photos
"Travels in Time and Space"
March 2003: Alice in Wonderland
February 2002: Providence is coming!
December 2002: The Night Before,
More Artwork and Production
November 2002: Matthew Reinhart's The Ark, The Making of The Night Before Christmas 1 and 2
October 2002: Pop-up Advertising Exhibit
September 2002: Movable Book Display,
More Movable Books from the Los Angeles Library
July 2002: Insectlopedia
June 2002:Holiday Boxed Set
May 2002: Popposites and Providence
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