Mastering Page Layout: Essential Elements and Formats

Elements of Page Layout

Clean layout: Visual elements in good order.

Layout elements are three essential elements:

Format: The size or area of the paper on which our design will be printed.

Many formats are according to user needs, such as books, magazines, etc.

Margins: The surrounding areas that respect each box and the edge of the paper.

May be varied according to design. (Head, Spine, Foot, and Fore-edge).

The Box: This is the real space and limiting area where we diagram and fit the elements of the page.

In Microsoft Publisher, the document box appears delineated by a blue box on the page.

Chaotic layout: Items at random, without aesthetic consideration.

What is Page Layout?

It is the attempt to balance the elements across pages, organizing the masses of text, illustrations, white space, titles, and photos, trying to find the harmony of parts to the whole.

If items appear to us as graphic chaos, it will hinder reading.

Commercial Formats

Choose and discuss which best suits your needs:

• The Bulletin: Newspaper, smaller, up to 6 pages.
• The Brochure: Letter size or legal, folded in 3 or 4 parts.
• The Flyer: Half a letter-sized card, classifiable.
• Magazine: More than a newsletter and smaller than a book.
• The Book: Larger set of printed pages, stitched, glued, or stapled.
• The Instructions: Book of instructions.
• Cartoon: Short story and/or humorous, where 75% are images.
• The Manual: Pocketbook or pamphlet containing the basic concepts of an art or science.
• The Poster: Large print with textual or graphical information of an event or activity of public notice or institutional.
• The Web: A vertically elongated format, where we combine information, graphics, and links in an interactive and engaging way to be viewed on a computer connected to the Internet.

Basic Layout Suggestions

One principle that must be taken into account when you start any work is how many columns you are going to work with. Columns are designed for easy reading in conjunction with the font or typeface that will be used. In addition, you may give a professional aspect to a document when compared with a running text of Word, for example. Once agreed, plan drafts to facilitate and visualize the layout of your document:

The Seven Seas

On the right is an example of a two-page centerfold.

In this case, we respect 2 cm on the back or 1 cm aside for central paste. Only pictures may eventually break the box, except for the text.

Another good strategy is to end double-page illustrations mounted, pointing toward the center of the document. This guarantees a visual approach to the text environment and keeps it more interesting as a whole.

Animal System

Other forms of bolder layouts are presented to the right. Solar.

Though it requires more experience playing with the risk elements, never forget that everything depends on who is receiving the document.

The 7 Rules of Page Layout

The best way to learn how to diagram is by watching and emulating other forms, such as magazines, newspapers, brochures, etc.

But there are 7 golden rules that should be taken into account when designing your documents:

1. Keep in mind the number of columns to use to plan the amount of text.
2. Once the texts are in, do not forget to leave space for graphic elements.
3. Do not overload the page with text, images, and/or white space. Be concise so as not to distract from the central theme.
4. The small blank spaces help rest your eyes.
5. When you diagram a double page, leave a safe space in the center of both to prevent images or text from getting caught in the staple or glue of the spine.
6. Please use no more than 2 or 3 typefaces per document. Unify them by headings, subheadings, and paragraphs.
7. If you work in a team with an illustrator, tell them in your drafts the space and the details of the illustration you need, with prominent red ink or marker.

How light enters and travels through the layout of a document.