Desktop Publishing Document Design Guidelines

Balance A document must look balanced. Formal balance relies on symmetry and gives a static look to page design.

A document must look balanced.

Formal balance relies on symmetry and gives a static look to page design.

Informal Balance Informal balance allows more flexibility and gives a dynamic look to the page. White spaces are most important when considering balance.

Informal balance allows more flexibility and gives a dynamic look to the page.

White spaces are most important when considering balance.

Avoid centering and having a boring design . . . Balance does NOT mean you have to centre everything. If you want to avoid boring design, avoid centering. Beginners like to centre everything, as this is a very safe way to balance the document.

Balance does NOT mean you have to centre everything. If you want to avoid boring design, avoid centering.

Beginners like to centre everything, as this is a very safe way to balance the document.

Alignment Alignment can make a great difference to the professionalism of your document. Every element on a page should be aligned to another element. This ensures that there is a visual connection between the various elements.

Alignment can make a great difference to the professionalism of your document.

Every element on a page should be aligned to another element. This ensures that there is a visual connection between the various elements.

Hints for better alignment: Move text away from left edge Use the same alignment throughout the entire document (right justify, left justify, or center align) Do not place anything on the page arbitrarily Do not center align everything. Center aligning should be done consciously, not because you cannot think of anything else to do

Move text away from left edge

Use the same alignment throughout the entire document (right justify, left justify, or center align)

Do not place anything on the page arbitrarily

Do not center align everything. Center aligning should be done consciously, not because you cannot think of anything else to do

Look at the alignment . . .

Ok . . . . . . better

Two alignments on a single page

Proportion When you place more than one item on a page, you must consider their relative sizes and importance. You must ask yourself: What is the relative importance of each element? How much of the page should be devoted to text? How much of the page should be devoted to SPACE? How large should the graphic be?

When you place more than one item on a page, you must consider their relative sizes and importance. You must ask yourself:

What is the relative importance of each element?

How much of the page should be devoted to text?

How much of the page should be devoted to SPACE?

How large should the graphic be?

Graphics in Proportion The size and position of a graphic will convey its relative importance, so keep the size and position of the graphic in relation to its importance.

The size and position of a graphic will convey its relative importance, so keep the size and position of the graphic in relation to its importance.

More than one graphic If there are several pictures together, what size chosen for them and how they are arranged can give impressions of importance. Ensure the arrangement reflects the importance of the graphics.

If there are several pictures together, what size chosen for them and how they are arranged can give impressions of importance.

Ensure the arrangement reflects the importance of the graphics.

for example . . . If you have four ‘mugs’ to position, then some possible ways of arranging them are:

If you have four ‘mugs’ to position, then some possible ways of arranging them are:

The following are better arrangements if they are of equal standing.

The following are better arrangements if they are of equal standing.

Placing graphics Graphics can be placed within a column, or across columns.

Graphics can be placed within a column, or across columns.

Guidelines with graphics Make graphics face into the page. Avoid a cluttered layout Provide a visual flow Use graphics to attract a reader’s attention. Graphs and charts can help readers to understand statistical data quickly.

Make graphics face into the page.

Avoid a cluttered layout

Provide a visual flow

Use graphics to attract a reader’s attention.

Graphs and charts can help readers to understand statistical data quickly.

Harmony Make sure the graphic is appropriate and adds visual interest to the text. The graphic must not give a misleading impression. Use repetition to create harmony. You can repeat graphic and textual elements to create a theme or consistency running through your document.

Make sure the graphic is appropriate and adds visual interest to the text. The graphic must not give a misleading impression.

Use repetition to create harmony. You can repeat graphic and textual elements to create a theme or consistency running through your document.

Sequence Keep the graphic close to the text it is describing. This helps to create the impression that there is a strong relationship between the two.

Keep the graphic close to the text it is describing. This helps to create the impression that there is a strong relationship between the two.

Space Space is NOT just what is left over. It is a vital part of the page that has a shape of its own. If you only worry about the text you can easily end up with spaces that look awkward.

Space is NOT just what is left over. It is a vital part of the page that has a shape of its own.

If you only worry about the text you can easily end up with spaces that look awkward.

Spaces that require your attention include: Letter and word spacing Line and paragraph spacing Margins Indents

Letter and word spacing

Line and paragraph spacing

Margins

Indents

Proximity Group related items together CD ROM Classical Jazz Country Western Country Hip Hop Rapp Rock Acid Rock Educational Topics Early Learner Late Learner Humanities Math & Science CD ROM Classical Jazz Country Western Country Hip Hop Rapp Rock Acid Rock Types of learners Early Learner late Learner Humanities Math & Science

Group related items together

CD ROM

Classical

Jazz

Country Western

Country

Hip Hop

Rapp

Rock

Acid Rock

Educational Topics

Early Learner

Late Learner

Humanities

Math & Science

Appeal to your reader A reader’s eyes fall naturally at the top left corner, move across the page, and flow down to the bottom right. Eyes hate working against this natural gravity.

A reader’s eyes fall naturally at the top left corner, move across the page, and flow down to the bottom right.

Eyes hate working against this natural gravity.

Poor Design Eyes are attracted to the headline and then read down. Reader will miss the most important information which is at the top of the advert. Special offer information is in capitals, making it harder to read. Heading and special offer info are both centered, while the rest is left justified.

Eyes are attracted to the headline and then read down.

Reader will miss the most important information which is at the top of the advert.

Special offer information is in capitals, making it harder to read.

Heading and special offer info are both centered, while the rest is left justified.

There are no fixed rules and you have to decide at all times what will be effective in your design. Be creative

There are no fixed rules and you have to decide at all times what will be effective in your design.

Sources Document Design , Hugh Derham http://edweb.sdsu.edu

Document Design , Hugh Derham

http://edweb.sdsu.edu