Shaunna Smith

CUIN 7358-Educational Uses of Digital Photography and Digital Storytelling

Dr. Bernard Robin

December 5, 2008

Final Semester Project Report: How Pop-ups Got Their Pop

The topic of my digital story is the evolution of pop-up books. My objective is to show how modern pop-ups have evolved from simplistic paper mechanisms found in movable books dating back to the 16th century.I selected this topic because pop-up books have always fascinated me and I saw this as an opportunity to learn more about them.The intended audience is students and teachers in art or English.This project could be used as a focus for a new unit to highlight the history of movable books and the art techniques behind the paper mechanisms within them.

Software & Hardware

I used many different software programs to complete my project: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Camtasia Studio 4, Goldwave, Microsoft Office Word 2007, Microsoft Paint, Photo Story 3 for Windows, and Windows Movie Maker. I also used the following hardware:Labtec AM-242 microphone, Samson USB microphone, Panasonic SDR-H18 digital video camera, Canon Power Shot A590 IS digital camera, a tripod, and a light table.

Content

The content for my project was found from a variety of sources. Images were found from various books and websites (see “Featured Works” on page 3). Though there were mot many resources on my topic, research for my script was found on The Popup LadyWebsite by Ellen G. K. Rubin ( Movable Books by Peter Haining, Paper Engineering: 3D Design Techniques for 2D Material by Natalie Avella, “A Galaxy in Your Face”from the New York Times by David Pogue, Pop Goes the Page Website( by the University of Virginia, Robert Sabuda’s Website ( Pop-ups, Illustrated Books, and Graphic Designs of Czech Artist and Paper Engineer, Vojtech Kubasta (1914-1992)by J. A.Findlay & Ellen. G. K. Rubin, and information of “pop-up books”, “Vojtech Kubasta”, and “volvelles” was found on Wikipedia ( My copyright free music was found on Freeplay Music ( The video clips that I used, other than those created by myself, were found on You Tube ( and Meta Café (

Changes

Many things changed throughout the progression of this project. Aside from the obvious changes in my script, my main change was that I had intended on discussing the actual production process of modern pop-ups as seen in Robert Sabuda’s video Popping up in Ecuador: How a Pop-up Book is Made!. However, as I gathered the necessary elements to cover the various paper mechanisms and the evolution of pop-ups, I found that the production process section had to be cut because it did not seem to flow very well among the other information and it made my project too long.

Challenges

I faced many challenges in which I had to overcome in order to complete this project. My main challenge was the lack of information available on the topic. I eventually found information in several books by leading experts, but was then I was faced with the lack of image availability, particularly for older works that are now out of print. After searching through Dr. Abrahamson’s collection, I found several books that I was able to photograph and video which helped tremendously. Luckily, I stumbled upon the US National Library of Medicine which highlighted the recent acquisitions of rare volvelles and Johan Remmelin anatomy texts. That was able to provide me with adequate images to cover the earlier works. From there on, I was merely faced with the fact that most online images and videos of pop-ups are poor quality so I solved the problem by taking photographs and video of my own collection.

Another challenge was selecting appropriate music to accompany my script. Though it may seem as if this would be easy, it was rather hard to find copyright free, instrumental music that added an appropriate feel to my digital story. Most of the music I found was either too busy or too boring and slow. I have to admit that I am still not 100% happy with my music selection; however, I polled numerous people and they said that it sounded good and did not detract from my script.

Among the aforementioned challenges, my biggest challenge was condensing my script to fit within a manageable timeframe. I do not view myself as a writer; therefore, I always struggle with making clear and concise points. However, after having reworked my script roughly 20 times, I feel as though I have successfully highlighted the points that I set out to cover.

Closing

The most significant thing that I learned from completing this final project is that finding visual resources for rare books is very difficult. If you are not able to find the actual images you need, then you have to carefully craft your script in order to sufficiently do it justice. Additionally, I became more proficient with audio and video editing, particularly working with Goldwave and Windows Movie Maker, which helped tremendously. All in all, I love creating digital stories and I wish there was a way to do this full-time to earn a living.

Featured Works

Anonymous, Theorica Planetarum, (1600)7

Anonymous, Collection of Astrological Writings, (15th century)7

Apianus, Petrus, Astronomicon Caesareum, (1540)7

Blue Ribbon Press, Tarzan, (1935)19

Blue Ribbon Press, Cinderella,(20th century)19

Braun, Isabella, The Little Actors Theater, (1981 reproduction)16

Callesen, Peter, Impenetrable Castle, (2005)2

Carle, Eric, The Honeybee and the Robber, (1981)16

Cape, Jonathan, The Genius of Lothar Meggendorfer: A Movable Toy Book, (1985)17

Dean & Son, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, (1860)14

Dean & Son, Little Red Riding Hood, (19th century)14

Dean & Son, Movable Dog Party, (19th century)16

Giraud, Stephen Louis, Bookano Stories, No. 3, (1936)8

Giraud, Stephen Louis, Bookano Stories, No. 9, (1942)8

Giraud, Stephen Louis, Bookano Stories, No. 10, (1943)8

Hyman, Tina Schart, The Enchanted Forest, (1984)16

Kubasta, Vojtech, Dolonit Advertisement, (1950)3

Kubasta, Vojtech, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, (1955)3

Kubasta, Vojtech, Gulliver v Liliputu, (1956)3

Kubasta, Vojtech, Polar Flight, (1960)3

Kubasta, Vojtech, Tesla Advertisement, (1950)3

Meer, Ron van der; Sudjic, Deyan, Architecture Pack, (1997)1

Meer, Ron van der; Cooper, Adam, The Formula One Pack, (1999)1

Meer, Ron van der; Geller, Uri, Para Science Pack, (2000)9

Meer, Ron van der; McGowan, Alan P., Sailing Ships: Pop-up Book, (1997)1

Meggendorfer, Lothar, International Circus, (1979 reproduction)16

Meggendorfer, Lothar, Surprise! Surprise!, (1982 reproduction)17

Melcher Media, The Pop-up Book of Celebrity Meltdowns, (2006)9

Nister, Ernest, The Children’sPicture Book, (1980 reproduction)16

Nister, Ernest, Magic Windows: An Antique Revolving Picture Book, (1981 reproduction)17

Reel FX, 4 Little Transitions, (2007)4

Remmelin, Johann, Catoptrum Microcosmicum, (1613)12

Renihart, Matthew, Star Wars: A Pop-up Guide to the Galaxy, (2007)17

Sabuda, Robert; Baum, L. Frank, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, (2001)17

Sabuda, Robert; Carroll, Lewis, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, (2003)10, 17

Sabuda, Robert; Reinhart, Matthew, Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs, (2005)10

Sabuda, Robert; Reinhart, Matthew, Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Mega Beasts, (2007)10

Sabuda, Robert; Reinhart, Matthew, Fairies & Magical Creatures, (2008)10, 17

Sabuda, Robert, Peter Pan, (2008)14

Sabuda, Robert, Wizard of Oz Pop-up Note Cards, (2002)14

Sayer, Robert, Queen Mab, (1771)20

Sayer, Robert, Harliquin’s Metamorphosis, (18th century)20

Sayer, Robert, Harliquin’s Tour, (18th century)20

Stark, Jen, Over and Out, (2008)18

Team One Advertising, Lexus Pop-up Book, (2007)24

Bibliography

  1. Avella, N. (2006). Paper Engineering: 3D Design Techniques for 2D Material. Hove, East Sussex: Roto Vision.
  2. Callesen, P. (2008). Selected Works. Retrieved from Peter Callesen:
  3. Findlay, J. A., & Rubin, E. G. (2005). Pop-ups, Illustrated Books, and Graphic Designs of Czech Artist and Paper Engineer, Vojtech Kubasta (1914-1992). Fort Lauderdale, FL: Bienes Center for the Literary Arts.
  4. FX, R. (2008). 4 Little Transitions: Making Enchanted FX Video.
  5. Haining, P. (1979). Movable Books. New English Library.
  6. Lee, M. (2008). Disks. Retrieved from Visual Lee:
  7. Medicine, U. N. (2008). Recent Acquisitions . Retrieved from History of Medicine:
  8. Monocat. (2008). Bookano Stories. Retrieved from Flickr:
  9. Morph33. (n.d.). Origami Pop-up Book. Retrieved from Flickr:
  10. Noble, B. &. (2008). Cover Story: Robert Sabuda & Matthew Reinhart. Retrieved from You Tube:
  11. Pogue, D. (2007, November 11). A Galaxy in Your Face. The New York Times .
  12. Rubin, E. G. (2004). Pop-up and Movable Books. Retrieved from The Popup Lady:
  13. Sabuda, R. (2008). Explore Pop-ups. Retrieved from Robert Sabuda:
  14. Sabuda, R. (Director). (2005). Popping Up in Ecuador: How a Pop-up Book is Made! [Motion Picture].
  15. Saul, S. (2008). Volvelles. Retrieved from A Website:
  16. Smith, S. V. (2008). Courtesy of Dr. Richard Abrahamson.
  17. Smith, S., & Photograph. (2008). Courtesy of Dr. Richard Abrahamson.
  18. Stark, J. (2008). Current Work. Retrieved from Jen Stark:
  19. Texas, U. o. (n.d.). UNT Libraries: Pop-up and Movable Books A Tour Through Their History. Retrieved from UNT Libraries Exhibitions:
  20. UK, P. P. (2007). Harliquinades. Retrieved from People Play UK Guided Tours:
  21. University, R. (2008). Bookano Series. Retrieved from Rutgers Libraries:
  22. Virginia, T. U. (2000). Pop Goes the Page. Retrieved from Pop Goes the Page: www2.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/popup/theme.html
  23. Wikipedia. (2008). "pop-up books", "Vojtech Kubasta", "volvelles". Retrieved from Wikipedia:
  24. You Tube. (2007). Lexus Pop-up Book Video. Retrieved from You Tube:

Shaunna Smith, CUIN 7358, Fall 2008Page | 1