Layout

Layout

The arrangement of printed elements on a monitor or sheet. This may include a sketch or finished plan

Elements of Layout

Body Type Display Type Illustrations White Space

Body Type The printed type that makes up the text in

a layout. Must be chosen to represent the intent of

the message Must be clear and relate to the topic Not the focal point, but contains the

message

Display Type The type that contains the main message of

the layout. Intended to draw attention

Draw the reader to other information

Must correspond to the visual messages This includes Illustrations and Body Type

Illustrations Includes the ornamentation, photographs

and artwork Can be used with Display Type to capture attention “A picture is worth a thousand words”

White Space The area of the layout that is void of

printed images Includes being void of print itself

Too much clutter isn’t good for the audience Meaning of the design gets confusing

Too much white space isn’t good for the audience Meaning of the design can be lost

Display Type

Body Type Illustration

White Space

Display Type

Illustrations

Developing a Layout

Project Objective Product Message Style and Format Layout Requirements Printing Requirements

Project Objective

Statement that describes the intent or purpose of an end product Reason why you are creating the graphic

communication Helps plan for the rest of the project

Product Message

Provides the audience a direction for the communication Created for a specific audience Determines mood or tone

Happy, informative, somber

Style and Format

Style includes the text, display and illustrations

Format includes the style, size, spacing, number of pages, margins, and printing requirements (if the job is printed)

Layout Requirements

Number and format of the different versions Sketch Rough Layout Comprehensive

Printing Requirements

What the final outcome will look like Size of the sheet Color Number of pages Type of paper

Layout Methods

Thumbnail Sketches Rough Layout Comprehensive Layout

Thumbnail Sketch

Simple, rapidly drawn design of a layout Rough idea of a final version – puts the

plan in place

Rough Layout

A redrawn version of a thumbnail sketch, closely resembling the final layout Refined layout – a redrawn version of the

rough draft that is closer to the final layout

Comprehensive Layout

Detailed Layout showing how the printed piece will look when finished Very close to the final layout

Specifications

The overall layout guidelines relating to such information as type style, type size, line width, color use and page orientation