Type and Grid Workshop Three.

Construction of grids

• before you can make a grid you must know what you're making it for
• in industry you will know your stock, size, quality, print methods beforehand
• thumbnail sketches will make the final design of layout more productive
• thumbnail sketches should be proportionate to the final outcome
• before drawing consider the number of columns
• more columns gives you more scope for design and layout
• 2 columns could be subdivided into 4
• 3 columns opportunities for arranging and accommodating text and illustrations in numerous sizes
• a 3 column grid could be subdivided into a 6 column arrangement
• disadvantages of 6 column are that the lines of text will be narrow and a small typeface would have to be used
• for statistics, figures, graphs and trend line publications use 4 columns per page
• 4 columns can be subdivided into 8, 16 etc
• the width of a column dictates the size of typeface used
• the rule, the narrower the column the smaller the typeface

Thumbnails

• make a variety of thumbnails of layout designs
• do not just rely on one set of thumbnails
• enlarge a section of appropriate thumbnail by 1:1
• compare them and select and repeat process until you are confident with the design
• it is about generation of ideas

Apply type to columns

• the first line must fit flush to the top limit of the column grid
• the last line must stand on the bottom limit
• it is difficult to find the final solution the first time around
• it could mean that your grid field is to high or to low

example 1

• 10pt type - 15pt leading
• column length 15cm
• loosely means use 15pt leading
• at this length there must be 10 lines per field
• meaning 30 lines every 15cm
• the depth of my field assertions how many 10pt type lines I have

example 2

• caption text - 4pt type, 6pt leading
• header and footer tet - 7pt type, 10pt leading
• body text - 10pt type, 13pt leading

Type and Picture

• A4 format
• 8 & 20 grid fields
• 8 grid fields are used for advertising material and brochures
• the grid is only an instrument in which you, a designer, can make interesting and balanced designs
• 20 field grid has quite a large scope for idea solutions
• there are 42 possible layout options

Task

• concertina folds
• 5 - 16 pages
• use own work as content
• challenge the layout
• use multiple grids