Questions

Answers

What are the design basics I need to know?

The most important concept of all is the double-page spread. When designing a layout, you're creating a single composition, made up of both a left- and a right-hand page. You can think of these two facing pages in the same way an artist would a canvas. Physically, they may be separate pages, but compositionally they are just parts of the whole. Pages should always be submitted to the plant as double-page spreads at deadline time, too. The elements of design include pictures, copy, artwork, graphics and white space. Pictures, copy and artwork are the most important elements. A graphic is a general term for almost any other printed element: rule lines, screened areas, spot-color areas, and background textures. White space is an often under-appreciated element. White space usually surrounds a layout to help frame and contain the other design elements. back to top

What are all those squares on the layout sheets?

Printers use a measuring unit called a pica. It's equal to one-sixth of an inch, and each tiny square on your layout area is one square-pica. Picas are used to measure the width and length of pages, columns, picture areas and oversized type (more than 60 points). Picas are made up of smaller units called points. Twelve points equal one pica; 72 points make an inch. Points are used to measure rule lines and type. back to top

What are the essential rules of yearbook design?

The basic rules of design are easy: • Choose a column method and stick to it. • Place your dominant photograph (usually your largest photo) near, at or across the gutter. The gutter is the center of the spread where the pages meet. • Group three to seven supporting photos around the dominant photo, keeping a one-pica margin between the photos and other elements. • Place copy blocks to the outside of photos. Create a main headline and add body (story) copy. Include a caption for each photo. • Leave white space to the outside of the layout. It's really as simple as that. Almost every layout, no matter how complicated, builds on this foundation. If your students can master these rules, they'll create well-organized, good-looking layouts. See also Taylor’s SAM curriculum for more information on this topic. Click here for information on SAM. back to top

What is the column method of design?

Columns are vertical design guides that help give order and rhythm to the composition. Each rough-draft sheet has pre-set columns marked on it to help you design your spread. These are also marked in Taylor’s Vision software, QuarkXPress, PageMaker, and InDesign. One set of markings divides the spread into six columns (three on the left-hand side of the spread and three on the right-hand side). Other markings divide the spread into seven columns and eight columns. The columns have one pica of separation between them. To use columns, you simply align design elements to fill the entire width of one or more columns. For example, photos may be one, two, three or more columns wide but never just a portion of a column. Each section in the yearbook can feature a different column method (six, seven, eight or more), but only one type of column structure should be used within a section. When a yearbook section or the entire yearbook maintains a column format, the overall appearance of the book will be consistent. One more point. Some students will have a hard time understanding the use of columns and will need extra coaching. Others will simply challenge the need for them at all. So, are they really necessary? No. No more necessary than correct spelling on an English paper, or using a sidewalk instead of a busy street. You don't have to use columns, but they make very good sense. For more information on designing layouts and columns see SAM (Student Adviser Materials). Click here for information on SAM. back to top

What is the grid method of design?

The grid method of design is an alternative to using columns. Essentially, it involves both vertical and horizontal columns. You can develop your own grid pattern or begin with a Taylor rough-draft layout sheet where a grid pattern is drawn for you. To develop your own grid, divide the spread into four-pica columns, leaving one pica between each column and two picas at the gutter. Your grids can be any width -- try six or eight picas to start with. This can also be done in Taylor’s Vision software, QuarkXPress, PageMaker, and InDesign. back to top

What is "copy preparation"?

The term copy preparation refers to the process of preparing and communicating page designs for the printer. The staff's role in copy preparation is critical -- considering the time spent writing and designing, you want to give the printer precise page instructions to ensure that your pages turn out the way you planned. The term copy, in this usage, refers to all materials sent to the printer, not just text. Essentially, copy preparation involves submitting clear, consistent instructions regarding screens, rule lines, four-color, spot color and the labeling of photos and copy blocks. Taylor offers complete copy preparation guides for each of its production methods. For specific instructions and all the details, refer to those manuals or ask your sales representative. back to top

How are picture areas numbered?

Labeling picture areas correctly and then making sure those numbers correspond to the actual photos is critical to ensure that your pages turn out the way you planned. Picture areas are the areas drawn on a layout designating where photos will be placed on the spread. Follow these basic rules for labeling picture areas on your layout: • Number the picture areas on your layout from top to bottom, left to right. Number photos that bleed across the gutter first (1A, 2A), then continue on each page. The left-hand and right-hand pages of a double-page spread should be numbered separately. For example, label the gutter bleed photo 1A, then the first photo on each page as photo two and continue numbering the photos consecutively for each of the two pages. • Label gutter-bleed photos first (regardless of where they fall on the page). It's important to label gutter-bleed photos on both sides of the spread, assigning the photos a number and a letter. For example, if a spread has two gutter-bleed photos, the first photo should be labeled on both sides of the spread as 1A; the second gutter-bleed photo should be labeled on both sides as 2B. • After the gutter-bleed photos have been numbered, continue numbering the photos on each page using the top-to-bottom, left-to-right rule. For example, if you have two gutter-bleed photos on the spread (1A and 2B), the next photo on each page of the spread should be numbered and labeled as 3. One final example: Suppose a picture area on a page is just slightly lower than a picture area on its right, say even one pica lower. How is it numbered? The top-to-bottom, left-to-right rule still applies. The picture on the right will be numbered first because it's the first picture you come to when following the rule. • In design, what's most important is that the numbers on the photos accurately correspond to the proper picture areas on the layout. But following the top to bottom rule will help ensure photos are placed properly. back to top

What exactly is "line art?"

In printing, line art refers to any graphic that displays no shades of the ink color. In other words, areas of the element are either black or white (of course, black is arbitrary; you could use any ink color). The printing opposite of line art is a halftone where the image displays shades through the use of a screen of dots. Most art you will use is line art. In fact, art that requires a halftone screen to properly represent the image is actually treated as a photo. Line art is any graphic which does not display shades through the use of a halftone screen. Most graphics you submit should be treated as line art. If subtle shading is needed, submit the art as a photo. Taylor offers a collection of line art that can easily be used on any page in your yearbook. The Ultimate Art Book contains thousands of different clip-art options. Click here to find out more about the Ultimate Art Book. back to top

How can I create layouts quickly and easily?

One time-tested trick is what some call the four-way method. Once you've created a good layout, turn the design upside down. With a few modifications, you have a new layout. Now reverse it. Another layout is born. Finally, turn it upside down again. By creating one well-designed layout and modifying it slightly, you've actually created four. If you want it even easier, Taylor has created packages of standard layouts for users of any production method. You choose a layout, place photos and copy into the designs of your choice, and voilá! You have great layouts. Ask your representative for the latest news on Taylor's standard layout offerings. back to top

Where can I get design ideas?

Look at magazines, newsletters, brochures, ads, product labels and other printed materials for yearbook design ideas. Magazines are a great source of design ideas. Notice how professional designers use organized, columnar design, and even when they break the rules, there's usually an underlying plan and order. Turn to design and technology magazines for new and better ways to create design elements electronically. Taylor's Yearbook Yearbook shows some of the best yearbooks across the country each year. Also, exchange extra copies of your own yearbook with schools in your area. Many Taylor representatives also have yearbook collections they'll share for this purpose. back to top

How do we prepare panel pictures?

Panel pictures are portraits with a minimum of white separation. Identify each with a picture label, then stack them back-to-back and face-to-face, then wrap them with a loose rubber band. This keeps any ink from smearing onto the faces and keeps the pictures in order. Another option for preparing panel pictures is Taylor’s EZ Pix service. With EZ Pix, Taylor receives a photo CD from your photographer with all your portrait images and name information. You create the portrait layouts, review a set of directory proofs to make sure the names are correctly spelled and match each photo, then we’ll flow the images onto your layouts. Quick, easy and hassle-free! On yearbook layouts, panel pictures are traditionally separated by only three points of white space or a black rule line. These effects can easily be created using Taylor’s Vision Series software or any desktop publishing program. It is not necessary to crop portrait pictures, however, you can crop the first photo and we’ll format the remainder per that example. A quality consideration is to try to maintain – as best you can -- consistent background shades and head sizes. Taylor’s PicturePerfect™ scanning technology will allow your photos to be sized and reproduced as consistently as possible (it’s not possible to recompose portraits where the subject’s head completely fills the frame). back to top

What are some tips for placing graphic elements?

Never underestimate the creativity of your students. Just when you've learned how to communicate one special effect to the printer, your staffers are sure to think of another one that requires special instructions to the plant. If you're using the computer, most graphics are created entirely through the tools in the software. Rule lines When using rule lines, draw the rule line exactly where you want it to appear on the layout and indicate the width of the rule in points. Also, if a rule line is to be printed in a color other than black, indicate the ink color, screen percentage, ink name and ink number. White lines White lines are the absence of ink from a background. This is called a reverse. Draw the white separation exactly where you want it and indicate its width in points. Three points is standard. When using white lines to separate printing elements, there is no need to draw the white separation on the layout. However, you do need to indicate the width of the line or lines in points. Drop shadows A screen of black or spot color can be used to create the appearance of a shadow. Draw the shadow exactly where you want it to appear on the layout and indicate the width in points. Indicate ink color and screen percentage when applicable. These can incur an extra charge. Screens A screen is a shade of a solid color of ink. Standard percentage screens are 10, 20, 40 or 60 percent. Use screens as backgrounds on layouts where emphasis is desired. If it's a black-and-white page, it's best to reverse type that falls on a 60 percent screen and overburn (print solid) type on 10, 20 and 40 percent screens. back to top

What is a colophon?

Colophon, derived from Greek, means the "finishing touch." In a yearbook, it's the statement about the book itself, containing a listing of design and printing information for the readers. Colophons are placed after the index, on a page with acknowledgments or on the back endsheet. Colophons vary greatly in content and presentation. Including a colophon is not considered essential to producing a good book, but it does provide a finishing touch and professional look, as well as help judges during evaluation. Standard colophon items include the name of the book, year and volume, number of staff members, number of pages, number of copies printed, publisher's name and address, cover specifications (materials and processes), paper stock and type selections (styles and sizes). Other colophon items include graphic design programs, special effects used in the book, advertising revenue, expenses, the name of the publisher's representative, portrait photographer, special thanks and awards received by last year's book. Download the Taylor Talk Colophon (pdf) back to top