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Published byMonica George Modified over 9 years ago
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There are certain qualities that every printed document must have, regardless of its purpose or form Use what we learn over the next two days as a safety checklist, not rules I’ll also expect you to start explaining items using the terminology and design skills we discuss
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Proportion Balance Restraint* Contrast Rhythm Unity Detail* * Not in Lichty
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Design Principle #1
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How well does each piece of the puzzle relate to the other pieces Hold the layout at a distance and concentrate on the Total Picture ◦ is it pleasing to your eye? Proportion Obtainers ◦ Importance ◦ White Space ◦ Margins ◦ Grids
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The size of an element should be determined by its relative importance to its environment. The larger an element, the more important it seems to the reader ◦ Works with graphical or textual elements ◦ Stair-stepping elements Like this Or even this
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Areas of a page without text or graphics Structured Order White Space ◦ gutters, leading, indents, etc. Less Structured White Space ◦ drops, empty left/right column, bands of white White Space is very inexpensive to use Readers welcome it as a place to rest their eyes (or a place to take notes)
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Too little ◦ Can look hard to read ◦ Overwhelming & confusing Enough ◦ More inviting ◦ Less intimidating HOW TO REPEL READERSHow to attract readers
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Plan for it - Treat white space as an element on the page ◦ equal in importance to text and graphics ◦ shouldn’t be seen as “leftover” space ◦ should be organized Use it along the outside edges of a page Use it in unequal concentrations ◦ Margins, drops, etc.
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Space trapped on all 4 sides ◦ Fails to realize its potential One of the biggest no-no’s in DTP Distracts the reader’s eye Seems to push away other elements on the page Looks like a mistake How to avoid creating trapped white space
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White space, White space, White space When you have an item that doesn’t fill the space, don’t “float” the item by splitting the space evenly Group WS together White space, White space, White space
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Defined by the grid, which describes the proportion and placement of the margin Should occupy about 50 percent of the page Margins should always be unequal – equal margins breed monotony ◦ Should use progressive margins
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A series of non-printing horizontal and vertical guidelines on the page. ◦ Guarantees consistency throughout the document ◦ Identifies margins ◦ Determines orderly placement of columns and illustrations on the page Using the golden section
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Birds of Paradise The Norwegian Blue Polly the Parrott
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Laying out various text columns that account for appropriate white space You can interchange the page structures, but remember to keep consistent margins throughout a document Roughly 8 ways to structure a page
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Design Element #2
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The weight of the objects on the left side of the page equals those on the right Unbalanced objects make us uneasy Balanced objects look proper and secure
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To obtain balance, you work with the optical center The spot the eye sees when it first encounters a page Slightly above the mathematical center of the page Similar to where we look on the face when we talk to others: the eyes
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Symmetrically formatted Balance is evident along the optical center Provide feeling of formality, precision, and reserve Examples: wedding invitations, title pages, business cards, etc.
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Asymmetrical format Balance is dynamic instead of static along the optical center Reader adjusts the balance in own mind More energy, more vigor, more enthusiasm Adds interest to the page and sparkle to the presentation
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Design Element #3
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Strive for simplicity in design DTP gives you so many tools Straight-forwardness is a virtue ◦ Effective design is invisible to reader Restraint is achieved by sticking to a few carefully chosen typefaces, styles, and sizes A good carpenter doesn’t use every tool in his kit on a single task; neither should you
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If you draw attention to too many items on the page, the result is nothing will stick out Excessive use of emphasis weakens your publication to the point of losing all impact Overuse of graphic gimmickry results in a cluttered look
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Looking Good in Print, Roger C. Parker The Non-Designer’s Design Book, Robin Williams Desktop Publishing Design, Kristine Moore Design Principles for Desktop Publishers, Tom Lichty
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