Seven Rules of Basic Yearbook Design

2. Seven Rules of Basic Yearbook Design

4. 1. Implement a column base for the spread. • Columns give vertical structure, ensure alignment of elements and standardize copy and caption width. • Three or four columns on each page work best for beginners. • Leave one pica between each column. • All elements begin and end on a column line.

6. 2. Place a dominant photo. • The dominant photo should be two to three times as large as any other photo on the spread. • The dominant usually crosses the gutter or is at least near the center.

8. 3. Establish an eyeline. • Eyelines are usually one pica of horizontal white space or a rule line that crosses the spread to help the spread appear as a unit. • The eyeline should be at least 12 picas from the spread’s center. • It is acceptable to break the eyeline with one element.

10. 4. Add four to six pictures. • Vary their shapes and sizes. • Group them around the dominant. • One picture may cross the eyeline if the dominant does not. • Leave one pica between each picture.

12. 5. Place a caption for each picture. • Try to have each caption touch the photo it represents. • Place captions one pica from other elements. • Keep captions toward the outside corners to avoid trapped white space. • Stack a maximum of two captions on top of or next to each other.

14. 6. Place a headline and copy block. • The headline should touch one side of the copy block. • Place them toward the outside of the spread.

16. 7. Maintain margins. • Make sure all external margins are touched by at least one major element. • Keep all elements one pica apart for a consistent internal margin.

18. 8. Plan white space. • Captions and unused white space should have two ways off the page to avoid being trapped. • Trapped captions and white space are undesirable because they grab the readers’ attention away from the dominant photo and headline. • Use white space to draw readers’ eyes toward headlines or other important elements.

27. Grid Design • Advanced designers use smaller columns typically made of three to six picas called grids. • Grids make it easier to use white space and add flexibility.

28. Modular Design • This method offers even more design flexibility because each section can have multiple modules for alternative copy and graphic coverage. • Use the library pallet in PageMaker to create modules that can be easily imported and adapted for each spread. • Ask your Herff Jones rep for a demo of the HJ Guide to Modular Design that even includes predesigned modules that are ready to use.

35. Yearbooks by Design • A complete instructional package designed to teach both basic and advanced aspects of yearbook layout and design

36. Yearbooks by Design • Adviser and staff editions • Teacher edition includes all instructional material plus a five-day lesson plan • Student edition presents basic and advanced design with actual examples of both color and black and white yearbook layouts • Full instructions to carry page from concept to development to submission

37. Ideas That Fly • This showcase book contains60 top-rated yearbooks • See what the top-rated books are doing with their covers, endsheets, opening pages, student life, class sections, sports, academics, advertising, and index pages

38. Yearbook Design Collection Yearbook Design Collection • The Yearbook Design Collection provides our customers with professionally created yearbook covers, endsheets and divider pages within a price range that works with any budget.

39. Herff Jones Web site • Design showcase • View actual cover, endsheets, and layout designs from award-winning yearbooks • Student resources • Journalism convention and workshop updates • Free downloadable clip art, layouts, and web site templates

40. Check us out on the Web http://www.herff-jones.com/yearbooks