3. LAYOUT 1
This is the first page that I created using the program InDesign, I was told to produce a page
with three columns, once I had adjusted the page settings to match this criteria I was then able to
go on to think about the layout of my text and images. I created content boxes on the page for
where different images and columns would be positioned so that I could think about what kind of
image : text ratio I would have within the page. After doing this I then sourced two different
images that would be used within the page and would fit in with the layout that I desired.
Because I had chosen to have two images which would lye vertically across the bottom and top of
the page, acting as a header and footer, this meant that I had to use Photoshop to adjust one of
the images (the footer) so that it would look fitting with the page. After I had done this I used the
content boxes to place the images into their correct place within the spread, using the guidelines I
made sure that they were both in line with the margins. I then sourced some lorem ipsum text to
insert into the page, and added the text into the columns which I has already created, I used the
guidelines to make sure that they were all equally spaced out throughout the page and flowed
well. I added a pull out quote to break the text up which was a larger size to the rest of the text
and works well with the use of a drop capital at the beginning of the copy to create balance for the
eye when looking at the page.
I think that for my first attempt at using InDesign, this was a good attempt at creating a
page which could be use within a magazine or any other publication, however I have not properly
used the rulers and guidelines to their full potential to create a balanced piece of work. I think
that I could have explored the program more thoroughly in order to create a product of better
quality, however producing more page layouts would help me to do this
4.
5. LAYOUT 2
For my second page layout I decided to use different guideline to create a more interesting
spread, when I opened up the blank document I changed the columns and rows to 3x3 with a 2mm
margin. With my first layout I liked how the images were acting as headers and footers to the
page, so I decided to have one image was a header across the top of the page, so the first thing
that I did was create a content box which took over the whole top section of the page (the first row
and three columns) the image that I placed into this section is a very good example of how
guidelines are very important, you can see that there are 6 subjects within the image, and when
you look at the guidelines on the image you can see that the subjects are so evenly distributed
within the photograph that two of the subjects are featured within each column of the page. After
I had the image in place I then went on to creating content boxes for where I would have the copy
within the page, I chose for there to be three columns of text, however they would be broken up
with a pull out quote at the top of the second column and a small image at the bottom of the third
column. I made sure that both the pill out quote and the photograph fitted into one specific section
created by the overlap of the rows and columns, meaning that they were the same width of the
text too, making the page as a whole seem more balanced and even. I then added the text to the
columns and used a drop capital at the beginning of the copy and again at the start of the third
column to add some interest to the text itself and make the spread look more aesthetically
pleasing.
I think that after creating this layout I have become more aware of how guidelines can be
used to ensure that a page looks balanced and in line, comparing this to my first layout you can
see how the use of rows as well as columns helps to create a page which is level and ordered.
6.
7. LAYOUT 3
After my first two creations I decided to produce something a little more simplistic and clean
looking, I started by looking at different page layouts found in fashion magazines and particularly
liked the style of the articles that had more white space within them, which made the spread
seem more stylized as well as classic and clean. With this in mind I decided to source a hand
drawn fashion sketch that would be used within a magazine relevant to the subject. Once I had
done this I then began to produce a blank document within InDesign which only had two columns
and three rows, I thought that this kind of structure would be a god base for a more simplistic
spread. I decided that the image I sourced would be the only image on the page and would be
situated to the right hand side and the title would be opposite on the left as the eye reads left to
right and I thought that this kind of situation would make the page seem more reader-friendly. I
used the guidelines of the rows and columns as well as extra rulers to ensure that the title was
positioned in the center of the first unit, and applied a very feminine font that I think
aesthetically matched the theme of the image text to the text, I also added a crosshead
underneath the header with a left orientation within the text box which I think adds balance to
the header and adds interest. I then simply created content boxes for the copy which filled the rest
of the two columns without over lapping on the image or the title, and made sure that there was a
small amount of white space once the text had finished as I wanted to add a blob to the page. I
decided to just add a small graphic of a love heart to the bottom left hand corner of the page,
however I made sure that I used guidelines to make sure that this graphic was in the correct
position within the unit to ensure that it would not offset the rets of the page.
Even though this page is very simplistic, I think that the concept works well and that I have
begun to understand more how even if there is a lot of white within a spread, a page can still look
effective and guidelines can help to make sure that parts of the page are placed correctly.
8.
9. LAYOUT 4
I decided to create one last layout to make sure that I feel comfortable with using InDesign
and understand how to use different elements within the program to get the best results I can in
the future. I created a page with four columns and two rows to try and use a different structure to
what I had already produced within my other layout experiments. I proceeded to use content
boxes to start to piece together the placement of my text and images, I thought it would be
interesting to source and image that could be placed down the first two columns of the page, this
would mean that it would take up half of the page and that the text : image ratio would be even. I
found an image that fitted perfectly within the content box and was both colourful, then I decided
that the title should reflect a colour from the image, so wen on to create the header using the
guidelines and placed it at the top of the next two columns, extending over both of them and
extracted a red colour from the image and applied it to the text. Then I went onto create two
content boxes for the rest of the copy which would be in two even columns placed next to one
another. I thought that having the text in a reverse colour (black background with white font)
would add an extra element to the page, and adding a drop capital to start the article which was
the same colour as the red used in the title would tie the whole thing together. I included a pull
out quote towards the end of the copy to break up the text and has the quotation marks in the
same red so that it was more noticeable.
I donโt think that this is the strongest of my layouts, but I have explored different ways of
setting out a page and how colours and images can be a large influence on how copy is accepted
within a piece of informative copy.