Definition
Definition: Page layout (verb) is the process of placing and arranging and rearranging text and graphics on the page to produce documents such as newsletters, brochures, books, etc. Page layout (noun) refers to the actual document page and its composition. The primary software programs for desktop publishing are called page layout applications. Also Known As: page design | page composition | document design | desktop publishing
What are the rules of desktop publishing?
While there are no hard and fast rules, there are guidelines, best practices, and tried and true methods of arranging a page and doing desktop publishing that result in attractive pages that effectively communicate the intended message.
Below, you’ll find my personal selection of 12 Rules of Desktop Publishing:
- Use Only One Space After Punctuation
- Don’t Use Double-Hard Returns After Paragraphs
- Use Fewer Fonts
- Use Ragged-Right or Fully Justified Text Appropriately
- Use Centered Text Sparingly
- Balance Line Length with Type Size
- Use All Caps with the Right Fonts
- Use Proper Typographical Punctuation
- Use Frames, Boxes, Borders with a Purpose
- Use Less Clip Art
- Use More White Space
- Reset Software Document Defaults
Is There Such a Thing as a Perfect Page Layout?
While there is no single perfect way to compose a page, there are some generally accepted rules or guidelines that can help you put together an attractive publication that’s free of many common page layout ailments.
times out of ten they’ll give you the results you want with the least amount
of trial and error — as close to a perfect page layout as anyone can get.
As you read each page layout rule, mentally insert the phrase “In general” before
each rule. In general, these are the guidelines to follow:
Ad Design
If an ad is well-designed, it will look just as good upside down as it does right side up.
Alignment
Everything on the page should align with something else. A grid is an effective tool in insuring that text and images align. Break alignment only for emphasis and sparingly within a piece.
Initial Caps
Avoid placing initial caps in the lower one-third of the page. They tend to draw the eye prematurely to the bottom of the page and visually weigh down or clutter the lower portion of the page.
Rule of ThirdsVisually divide your page into thirds. Place elements on the page within these thirds for a more interesting and visually appealing layout.
Single Visual
One of the simplest and perhaps most powerful layouts use one strong visual combined with a strong (usually short) headline plus additional text.
Size
One measure of importance is size. Use larger graphics to communicate the most important goals of the piece. Smaller graphics are of lesser importance. When space is at a premium, drop the smaller elements first — they are less important.
Margins
Avoid using the same margins on all sides of a publication. In facing-page documents, the inside margin should be smaller than the outside margins. The bottom margin is usually larger than any other margins.
- In publications with facing pages, the outside margin of each page should be double the inside margin.
- For best appearance, margins should be sized progressively from smallest to largest: inside, top, outside, bottom.
Z Layout
Mentally impose the letter Z or a backwards S on the page. Place important items or those you want the reader to see first along the top of the Z. The eye normally follows the path of the Z, so place your “call to action” at the end of the Z.
Placing and Arranging and Rearranging
Page layout or page composition is the process of placing and arranging and rearranging text and graphics on the page. A good composition is one that is not only pleasing to look at but also effectively conveys the message of the text and graphics to the intended audience. There are certain tried and true elements of page composition that can help insure a successful layout. You may notice that these page composition tips are closely tied to the principles of design.
Align All Elements With Each Other or a Grid
Place each text or graphic element on the page so that they have a visual connection to each other. You can use horizontal or vertical alignment, align objects along the same edge or center them. Eyeballing it can work but for complicated layouts, a grid is helpful. This one composition tip alone can greatly improve the composition of a page because our eyes and brains crave a certain amount of order and consistency.
Select a Single Visual or Make Strong Visual Connections
One of the simplest and perhaps most powerful layouts use one strong visual. However, if using multiple images, keep them connected both through alignment and proximity — grouping the images so that they form a single visual unit and aligning them in a similar fashion.
Keep Odd or Even Elements in Balance
Creating the right balance is both about the number of text and graphics elements and how they are arranged on the page. Odd numbers tend to create a more dynamic layout. Use an odd number of visuals, odd numbers of text columns. Or, create a dynamic layout with an asymmetrical arrangement of elements. Symmetrical balance or the use of even elements such as two or four columns or a block of 4 pictures generally produces a formal, more static layout.
Divide the Page Into Thirds
Related to balance, the rule of thirds suggests that a more pleasing composition is possible if your arrangement of text and graphics can be placed using one of these guidelines:
- most important elements spaced more or less evenly within vertical or horizontal thirds
- most important elements concentrated in the upper or lower third of the page
- most important elements centered on one of the points where lines intersect after visually dividing the page into thirds horizontally and vertically
Add White Space in the Right Place
Just as important as the text and graphics on the page is the empty space. Cramming too much on the page even if it is perfectly aligned and balanced and falls within the rule of thirds can ruin a composition. The page needs visual breathing room. The best place for white space is around the edges of the page and the edges of text or graphic elements so it doesn’t get trapped in the middle of the page but increased paragraph, line, and letterspacing can also improve a layout.
Use Two or More of the Same Design Element
If one is good, two is better? Sometimes, yes. Repetition can come in the form of consistent use of alignment, using the same colors for related items (such as pull-quotes or headlines), using the same style or size of graphics, or simply placing the page numbers in the same spot throughout a publication.
Emphasize Differences Between Design Elements
While some aspects of page composition involve things that are the same — the same alignment, consistent use of color — it’s also a good idea to do some things differently, to use contrasting elements. The greater the difference the greater the contrast and the more effective the layout. Simple examples include making headlines a great deal bigger than other text and using a different size or color of text for captions, pull-quotes, and page numbers.
