Canons and Grids
Van De Graaf
- A gridded page is like scaffolding for a building
- Its a structure that elements can be organised
- Grids will help continuity to be maintained and help with the flow of information
- Historical reconstruction- divides the page into pleasing proportions- book design
- Also known as 'the secret canon'
- Works with any page- width:hight ratio
Task 1
The first task we had to do was draw the secret canon on the custom paper sizes were had been asked to create from the previous lesson.
The green box is the area where the text would go in a book.
Asymmetrica layout
Leading
- Linked with column width
- based on legibility
- Text is read by the eye of a distance of 30-35cm
- 7 words per line for a text of any length
To keep the type area light and open, leading must be considered:
i.e.....
The vertical distance from line to line which suits the size of the type
Overlong text lines tiers the eyes as do overlong ones; the eye naturally wants to jump to the next line
"Wrong column width leads to wasted time and space"
Column widths with 12 point, sans-serif = 14 point leading
Columns are easy to read if its wide enough to fit in average, 10 words per line.
115 point sans-serif =
17 point leading
20 point =
24 leading
24 point =
28 leading
28 point =
32 leading
The key is the ease of reading!
Text must not impair the rhythm
Can NOT apply to titles or sub titles
"Columns & Leading, is it just about aesthetics?"
Margin Proportions
Margins influence the overall feel of a page
Too small- looks overfull
Too large- looks exaggerated
Badly proportioned- 1x1x1x3 (pica's)
Side margins with the same width looks boring and generates the impression of indecision and dullness
Well proportioned- 4x3x3x7
ie...
A right hand page would look better with a larger left margin to compensate for the middle of the spread.
This adds to the layout however, this would cost more when coming to print.
The Type Area
Task 2
The second task we had to complete was to draw out some grids that we can later develop digitally.
I have started to experiment with grids digitally using Indesign.
One Column Grid
Full page bleed
10mm margin on each side 
Column centred with equal left, right margins with smaller bottom margin.
This layout has different margins on all sides and a wider column.
Two Column Grid
Three Column Grid
Task 3
For the final task, we were given a word to explore within layouts. The word I received was:
'Nature'
I photographed some spreads from the National Geographic magazine to see what kind of grids they use.
The contents page uses a three column grid system. 
This spread uses a two column grid with a full image page opposite. The image looks like it has equal margins apart from the left which is slightly larger to accommodate for the spine.
This spread has one column and the image bleeds from one page to another.
The recurring grid systems used in this magazine is a simple one or two column grid.
I think this is because the images are more of the focal point, so they use a simple system not to draw attention.
I noticed in this spread that the text column is quite large. To me, this strains the eye and impairs the rhythm that its read.
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Although this spread is heavily type orientated, the image has been placed within the middle of the grid system which acts as a frame, commanding the viewers attention.
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From the spreads I have looked at there seems to be a recurring theme. The amount of columns generally range from one up to three but on all of them, the image is the main focus, usually taking up the majority of page/pages. This makes me think the grids are not just for aesthetic purposes because they have to work alongside the images, not to draw focus and to guide the eye around the page fluently.
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