Van De Graaf
A gridded page is much like scaffolding for a building.
It is a structure that elements can be organised.
The Van de Graaf canon is a historical reconstruction of a method that may have been used in book design to divide a page into pleasing proportions.
It works for any ratio.
Draw an X on a page which means you can find the centre of the page, from this draw the triangle shape and then the intersect. This process gives us two nicely proportioned text boxes.
The borders around the text boxes are there to make sure that when people are holding the book their fingers are not in the way of the words.
Historian John Man suggests that Gutenberg's bible was based on the golden ratio.
Octavo Format
The text area and margin proportions are determined by the starting page proportions.
Golden Page & Resarivo's Ninths
Leading
Column width is more than just design or format.
It is also based on legibility.
Printed collateral (text) is read by the eye of a distance of 30-35cm
According to empirical rule there should be 7 words per line for a text of any length.
To keep the type area light open (in appearance) we must consider the leading.
i.e. The vertical distance from line to line which suits the size of the type.
Overlong text lines tire the eye, as do over short ones.
Readers find overlong lines strenuous to read.
This is because too much energy is spend keeping horizontal line in sight over a long distance.
Too short of a line and your eye changes text lines too often.
The key is ease of reading.
Text must not impair the rhythm of reading.
This can not apply to titles and subtitles.
Margin Proportions
Margins can have an influence on the overall feel of a page of print.
Too Small - looks over full
Too Large - Exaggeration
Well Balanced margins on the side, head and tail can create an agreeable impression.
Same sized margins can never generate an interesting page design.
They generate the impression of indecision..
The bottom margin should always be larger in a book
Is it all just about aesthetics?
The type area
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