I recently completed a new 56-page jewellery brochure for a supplier of high-end stone-set gold and platinum jewellery to the independent retail jewellery sector. The jeweller specified the size and format of the brochure – a double page spread on white background for each type of gemstone – and supplied the words and the jewellery.
My job was the design and creation of composite images, photography, retouching, page design and layout, typesetting, CMYK conversion, proofing and supply of print-ready files to the printer.
It’s rewarding to have so much creative and technical input into a brochure, dealing directly with the client and the printer. And it was interesting as the brochure covered 26 different kinds of gemstones including less common varieties such as kunzite, ametrine, sunstone, moonstone, morganite, alexandrite and chrysoberyl.
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Page design, jewellery photography and retouching by Tony May 2014.
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Pieces were shot individually and in groups, to allow the creation of composite images. Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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The brochure features many unusual gemstones such as ametrine, a combination of amethyst and citrine in one stone. Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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Another less well known gemstone, gorgeous Kunzite. Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
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Spreads were soft-proofed for approval and checking by the client. Jewellery photography retouching and page design by Tony May.
Spreads were soft-proofed as PDFs for approval and checking by the client.
After several rounds of soft-proofing, revisions to words and fine-tuning of images and compositions, I managed the production of colour accurate physical proofs before handing off the proofs and print-ready PDFs to the printer.
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Some gemstone colours are hard to reproduce in the limited gamut of litho printing so accurate proofing is essential. Copyright Tony May 2014.
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The finished brochure. Photography copyright Tony May 2014.
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An unusual sculpted Sunstone and diamond ring. Photography copyright Tony May 2014.
To see more of my jewellery work for brands, suppliers, retailers and designers, visit my jewellery portfolio.