Design
6
Anatomy of a Spread DROP CAP | Serves as an entry point into the story; font matches secondary headline.
PRIMARY HEADLINE | Large, catchy and enhanced with color; makes a verbal connection to the dominant photo.
DOMINANT PHOTO | Noticeably larger than the other photos; design further emphasized by partial cut-out background.
SECONDARY HEADLINE | Provides information to supplement the primary headline.
CONTRAST | The variety (in size, format, shape, weight or color) that creates a dynamic design and sparks visual interest to keep the presentation lively. DOMINANCE | Achieved by making a content element significantly larger calling attention to itself and becoming the focal point. The dominant element, often a photograph or collection of photos, should be important enough to justify this treatment.
CONTENT MODULE | Presents four photos and an expanded caption on hip hop dance.
EXPANDED SPACING | A “rail” is used to separate the dominant photo from the other content modules.
COB PHOTO | Stands for cut-out background photo; the cut-outs are placed on a pale color block to define the space.
ECHOING COLOR | Pulling a distinctive color from the photographs, especially the dominant, and repeating it for typographic and graphic elements across the spread to promote visual unity. EXPANDED SPACING | Generally a “rail” of 3 to 6 picas running vertically or horizontally and used to separate or isolate content. EYEFLOW | The natural movement from left to right with the content elements moving the eye into the center and/or toward other key elements. The goal is to keep the reader moving from element to element.
[Duncanville High School, TX]
EYELINE | An imaginary, horizontal line of 1-pica spacing used as a unifying device. The eyeline runs across the two facing pages, visually linking the spread.
STORY | Words provide facts and quotes.
FOLIO/FOLIO TAB | Indicates the page number and content; features a small photo to add reader interest.
TIGHT SPACING | Related photos are touching for visual unity and to save space.
CONTENT MODULE | Display four quotes and photos, highlighted with a pale color.
CAPTIONS | Placed to the outside; above, below, left or right of photos.
EYELINE | Horizontal alignment of elements across the design links the pages into a unified spread.
GRID | A framework of vertical or horizontal columns used for organizing and aligning content. GUTTER | The center of the spread, where the yearbook is bound with thread and glue into the spine. Typographic elements should not be placed in this area. HIERARCHY | A design technique that creates order and indicates importance through size and placement. LINES | Thick or thin, most often straight, used vertically or horizontally, lines are measured in points. MARGINS | Establish boundaries for the content; they provide a border of white space along all edges of the spread.