The workshop · 誠実, sincerity
A workshop devoted to personal stories.
Univers Japonais creates personalised posters from a first name or a photograph. Each design follows a template developed by the workshop, with a live preview and precise composition rules.
Our principle
Cultural accuracy before decorative effect.
A design inspired by Japan should explain what it actually does. For the name poster, we speak of phonetic transcription, not translation by meaning.
Katakana are commonly used to write words and names of foreign origin; they approximate the pronunciation without inventing flattering but inaccurate kanji. The seal and the French phrases are presented as graphic elements.
The rendering engine
Ten layers for one proof.
Everything is drawn by the engine, with no background image. The grain and irregularities are computed from what you type: the preview and the final file are identical, at every scale.
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01
GroundThe paper tone, lighter at the centre.
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02
GrainA fine screen, never smaller than one dot at 300 DPI.
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03
FibresThe fibres and foxing of old paper.
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04
WashDiluted ink spreading around the stroke.
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05
Brush columnThe first name in katakana, drawn in a column.
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06
HankoThe vermilion seal, with the character in reserve.
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07
VignetteA slight darkening of the edges.
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08
BorderA single or double rule around the composition.
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09
RomajiThe first name in spaced Latin letters.
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10
KigoA short phrase that sets the mood.
Our commitments
What we promise, and what we do not claim.
A deterministic transcription
The same input always gives the same katakana. No random generation, no so-called esoteric interpretation.
A single aesthetic direction
Ink, emptiness, paper and vermilion. We avoid a patchwork of unrelated decorative symbols.
A faithful preview
The same engine draws the preview and the final file. The watermark only belongs to the preview; the file without a watermark is reserved for a paid order.
The journal extends the workshop's work.
Guides by theme to understand the references used in the posters: language, arts, symbols, decoration and popular culture. The journal is written in French.