Layout

Layout includes the arrangement of text and illustrations on a page, whether editorial content or advertisements. Effective layout is like a map, guiding readers through content and graphics to make stories visually clear to follow and assist readers in finding what he or she is looking for. After articles are written and edited, and necessary photographs prepared, layout is what brings all of these elements together on a page. All print publications utilize layouts in the final steps of the production process. Since the advent of movable type, designers have been challenged by the need to integrate typography and imagery into a visual product that will attract readers. Layout differs from medium to medium based on the purpose of the publication. Newspaper layout is designed to communicate visually and easily the important and current news of the day, while magazine layout, particularly on its cover, is designed to attract readers to open its magazines and subscribe to or purchase them.

Layout is expected to vary from page to page in order to give the print publication variety and diverse visual interest on each page. Graphic designers, sometimes referred to as “information managers,” are typically responsible for the layout and design of pages in print publications. It is important for graphic designers and other individuals who work with layout to understand the basics of and current trends in print publications' page design. Trends tend to be driven by advancements in technology, such as laser systems for printing plates and video display terminals for layout of news.

Layout must be carefully planned. Graphic designers and art directors must first visualize the space, thinking through key elements of layout. One of these key components is proportion, which refers to the relationship of one element on a page—a block of text, a piece of art—to another or of one element to the whole. Balance is another [Page 837]fundamental element of layout. Balance is achieved when the elements are in equilibrium.

Based on an items' placement on the page, its information value can be assessed. For instance, information has differing value based on whether it is placed on the right, left, or in the center of the page, as well as if it is in the upper or lower portion of the page. Therefore, it is important to realize that the different elements of layout attract the readers' attention to differing degrees through myriad means, including size, color, sharpness, placement in the foreground or background, and so on.