We’re very pleased to announce that Libre Graphics Magazine (the informal name under which we’ll continue to trade) now has an ISSN. Two of them, in fact.
Handed down today by Library and Archives Canada, we are now, officially:
ISSN 1925-1416 Libre Graphics (Print)
and
ISSN 1925-1424 Libre Graphics (Online)
For all your cataloguing needs, we’re now ready to go.
We’re delighted to finally take the wraps off the first issue of Libre Graphics Magazine.
Download the PDF here. Note that this is the layout file for print and is rather heavy (120mb). However, this means that you can zoom in to see the tiny details inside the pictures, in all their gorgeous 300dpi glory! We’ll be updating this post with a lighter version for screen reading.
We will be telling you a lot more about the production process and our next steps — including how you can order your own paper copy! — but now, we’re rather exhausted. Hence, Libre Graphics Magazine team will now crash due to signal #11.
If you’ve been following this site and blog, there’s a question that might be on your mind:
Wasn’t the first issue supposed to have been released yesterday?
Short answer: yes, it was; and yes, we missed our deadline.
We’ve been gathering up all the materials, converting images, pestering writers and contributors, reviewing copy, contacting printers and distributors, setting up online ordering, typesetting articles and styling layouts. It’s quite a bit of work and the majority of the remaining tasks has already been taken care of.
However, the devil is always in the details. And we found quite a few, too. We had the option to cut corners and deliver a final version on time, but we (the magazine editorial team) decided we were not comfortable in rushing the issue into production while being aware that there were many small issues that we’d love to have the time to improve on.
So, you can expect an online version of the magazine, as well as an order form for print copies this Saturday. We’ll do our best to make it worth your wait. In the meantime, here’s a rundown of the content that you will be getting your hands on soon:
…and more!
After the little bit we showed earlier, here’s the whole cover, for your perusal.
Today’s the big day. Version 1.1 of Libre Graphics Magazine is coming out. But not just yet. We’re putting the finishing touches on layout. You’ll be able to download the whole thing later today (and hopefully order a paper copy tomorrow). In the mean time, here’s a process shot of our cover.
As one of our pro bono ads this month (more about that here), we’re running a page for VTF type foundry. The ad they sent has me very, very delighted. It’s all kinds of excellent.
Because Libre Graphics Magazine exists to serve F/LOSS-oriented designers, artists and all sorts of other users, we want to make sure that all those people know what’s going on. That’s where our event calendar comes in. It’s in print, at the front of every issue of the magazine and also online.
But for the event calendar to be useful, it needs events. We invite anyone to submit upcoming events to enquiries@libregraphicsmag.com.
We look, specifically for events that are
These events can be festivals, conferences, even shows. They don’t even need to be specifically F/LOSS oriented. They could be design or art events, or anything else that has a compelling use for the Libre Graphics user community. As long as they’re interesting and coming up soon, we want to hear about them.
We do, however, ask that if events charge and admission or registration fee, that the fee be clearly indicated in the given description. And if you offer travel bursaries or other forms of financial support for participants, mention that, too!
In Libre Graphics Magazine, to make things a little more understandable, we’re providing a glossary. This glossary covers any potentially complicated or fuzzy terms (mostly technical) that might appear in the issue. This glossary goes next to a resource list, which gives fast details about programs, ideas and tools that we’ve mentioned. So far, for issue 1.1, here’s what we’ve got to explain:
Resources
Subversion
Font Matrix
FontForge
Inkscape
Mandrake
makefile
Glossary
Free
DRM
Distro/Distribution
hinting
repository
Suggestions for workable, understandable explanations are welcome in the comments.
In issue 1.1 of Libre Graphics Magazine, we’ve reserved nine full pages for pro bono ads. These pages are spaces we want to go to the promotion of F/LOSS and Libre Graphics software. If your project wants one of those spaces, drop us a line at enquiries@libregraphicsmag.com.
Below, the dummy for issue 1.1, as of today. The blank pages are ones into which content hasn’t been slotted. Although the content for those pages does exist, in some way or other.
The call for participation for Libre Graphics Meeting 2016 is open! 
Latest commits in the magazine repository