Basic design


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Basic yearbook design instruction by Taylor Publications

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Basic design

  1. 1. The Elements of YEARBOOK: DESIGN : basic
  2. 2. Basic Design [Organized arrangement] of images & words to tell a story
  3. 3. Elements of Design <ul><li>■ Photos </li></ul>■ Copy ■ White space ► headline & story ► captions Don’t underestimate the importance and impact white space has on your spreads!
  4. 4. Placement of elements <ul><li>Verbal and visual elements create a bull’s-eye effect </li></ul>White space Words Photos
  5. 5. Design steps <ul><li>Determine foundational structure by dividing </li></ul>layout into columns of equal sizes. #1
  6. 6. <ul><li>All elements begin and end on a column </li></ul>All elements must begin and end on a column. Design CAUTION 1 col. 3 columns 2 columns 2 ½ 3 ¾ 1 ¼
  7. 7. Design steps Establish the external margins… #2 The amount of white space that surrounds the spread.
  8. 8. Design steps Note the gutter and the internal spacing… #3 (The 1 pica of white space between columns.)
  9. 9. Design steps #4 Place an eyeline.
  10. 10. ( Place in upper or lower third, never in the middle) Design CAUTION Placement of the eyeline… But not here…
  11. 11. Design steps #5 Place a vertical axis that meets your eyeline at what is called the axis point .
  12. 12. Design steps #6 Select and place dominant photo at axis pt.
  13. 13. Design steps #7 Place headline/copy area near dominant photo to reinforce message.
  14. 14. Design steps #8 Place next largest photo at axis point.
  15. 15. Design steps #9 Continuing to work from the axis point, place your next photo.
  16. 16. Design CAUTION ( Avoid temptation to fill in the corners.) Pause and consider caption placement.
  17. 17. Design IMPERATIVE Vary the shape and size of rectangular photos.
  18. 18. Design steps #10 Working from the eyeline, place the remaining photos.
  19. 19. Design imperative Photos should rest on or hang down from the eyeline.
  20. 20. <ul><li>Avoid running pictures into the outside margins, unless they bleed… </li></ul>(Pictures that bleed run completely off the page.) Design CAUTION
  21. 21. <ul><li>(Captions may differ in length, but must be the same width.) </li></ul>Design steps #11 Place a caption for each photo.
  22. 22. Design steps #12 Begin design check.
  23. 23. <ul><li>■ Consistent external margin </li></ul>Does a photo touch each margin?  Design CHECK
  24. 24. ■ Consistent internal spacing Is there 1 pica separation between each element?  Design CHECK
  25. 25.  Design CHECK ■ Eyeline Do the photo edges create a line of white space that spans across two facing pages?
  26. 26. Avoid placing pictures on the spread that are the exact size & shape unless the content is related. Design CAUTION X X X X X X
  27. 27. <ul><li>■ Bull’s-eye effect </li></ul>Do the layout of elements flow from the inside out, from black to gray to white?  Design CHECK
  28. 28.  Design CHECK ■ Captioning Do you have a caption block for every photo?
  29. 29. <ul><li>■ White Space to Outside </li></ul>Do you have white spaced trapped on the inside?  Design CHECK Example of trapped copy
  30. 30. Aim for a variety of content & balanced coverage  Design CHECK ■ Photo Cropping and Placement
  31. 31. Numbers: 1 person, 2 people, small group, large group  Design CHECK ■ Varied Content Boys vs Girls: Do you have a balance?
  32. 32. Design FIX #13 Replace photos or redesign as needed.
  33. 33. <ul><li>■ Use your layout to create others </li></ul>Design MAXIMIZATION #14
  34. 34. <ul><li>■ Mirror </li></ul>Design MODIFICATIONS Original Design >
  35. 35. ■ Flip Design MODIFICATIONS Original Design >
  36. 36. ■ Mirror-Flip Design MODIFICATIONS Original Design >
  37. 37. ■ Original Design MODIFICATIONS ■ Mirror ■ Mirror-Flip ■ Flip
  38. 38. ■ Design a layout using an eight-column format ■ Place your eyeline ■ Use 7-9 photos, varying size ■ Create a headline with a subhead & place over copy area ■ Make sure every picture has a caption placed logically near the photo it identifies ■ Check your layout before turning it in Your turn The Spirit of $76K
  39. 39. This PowerPoint presentation was created by Balfour-Taylor Yearbooks, for educational purposes only. It is unlawful to remove or alter the Balfour logo without the permission of Balfour-Taylor Yearbooks Marketing Department. For more information, contact Mike Taylor, Education/Marketing Director at