A Guide To Layouting

Ad Majorem De Gloriam
I. Prologue

Before anything else, I would like to thank you for volunteering to do this
job. During the span of your stay in the layout department, or perhaps you’re just
offering to help, you may find yourself entangled with several issues that can cause
a lot of delays and further problems. But you’re here now.

Fair warning, there are a lot of things involved in layouting that were not
mentioned in the job description. You have to be flexible enough to be able to adjust
to your situation. That is why this document exists, however. So without further
ado, I welcome to you the world of layouting.

P.S. I wrote this with the context of what I was taught in my early stages of
training and what I learned throughout my experience with layouting so far. I don’t
consider myself as an expert in such, but nonetheless, i’ll do my best in helping you
get through this. I wish you the best of luck!
II. Introduction

Basic Tools, Applications and Constructs

- Having Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop is a MUST.

○ Preferably use the latest versions if possible.

○ You can either buy the software from the official Adobe website, or
you can download a cracked version from the internet. (For the latter,
I can guide you on how to download.)
○ The Blue Knight ‘69 has an installer for Adobe Creative Cloud 2018.
You may borrow it if needed.

- Utilize the use of other applications for graphics.

○ The following are some of the editing tools we used to create arts,
graphs, and vectors:

- Adobe Illustrator
- Microsoft Publisher
- Canva
- FireAlpaca
- Sketchbook
- Phonto

○ The following websites can also be used for further design

inspirations and concepts if needed.

- behance.net
- issuu.com
- colorhexa.com
- flatuicolors.com
- color.adobe.com
- fontsquirrel.com

- Coordinate with the Art Department.

○ In layouting, digital artworks is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, and if

possible, is a MUST. However, in the case of non-digital submissions,
 ensure that a scanner is readily available. Printer scanners are much
preferred over phone scanners.

File Formats

Why is this important to know?

The layout is highly dependent on graphics, and certain file formats produce
better outputs than others. In layouting, good art and photo quality is crucial.
RGB vs. CMYK

- RGB (Red, Green, Blue): Commonly used in web design.

- CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black): Commonly used in print
design. Converting your file into CMYK is highly recommended as it
gives you better control over the final image outcome when printed.

Types of File Formats

- JPG

○ Most common file format used.

○ Uses RGB.
○ Becomes extremely pixelated when zoomed in.

- TIFF

○ Lossless compression, meaning it is considered as the highest

quality format for commercial work.
○ Good for single page printing.
○ Websites don’t show TIFF files, thus, it cannot be used for web
design.
○ Uses CMYK.

- GIF

○ Does not retain print resolution values.

○ Picture only has 256 different colors.
○ Pixels are obvious.
○ Good for vectors and graphics and excellent for digitals.
○ Offers animation and transparency.

- PNG

○ Can replace GIF.

○ Offers more than 256 different colors.
 ○ Most modern.
○ Features transparency.
○ Looks smooth if zoomed in, pixels are not that obvious.
○ Good for vectors and graphics.
○ Great for print publishing.
○ Most recommended format.

- Raw Image File

○ Camera image file.

○ Highest file formats for cameras.
○ Best quality of image file.
○ The file is heavy and takes a significant amount of storage.
○ Stores value of light.
○ Must be converted into another format in order to be used in
Adobe InDesign.
○ Usually used for tabloid centerfolds.
○ Good for editing in Adobe Lightroom.

Types of Document Formats

- PSD (Photoshop Document)

○ Contains layers of the file.

○ Anyone who has access can manipulate.
○ Can act like an image document.
○ Only readable by Adobe applications.
○ Keeps quality at maximum.
○ Great for graphics which are highly edited.
○ Highly recommended.
○ You can insert PSD files immediately in InDesign.

- INDD (InDesign Document)

○ Packaging files.
○ Keeps quality at maximum.

- IDML (InDesign Document)

○ Editable by users who have on older version of InDesign.

- PDF (Portable Document File)

○ Retains the original layout.

○ Portable and easy to use.
 ○ Keeps the quality of layout but can also be adjusted for lower
quality printing.

III. Design Aspects

---

III. Designing
a. tabloid
editorial
● masculine look
● no script and italics
● has pics of writers

feature
● more artsy attempt
● more feminine

literary
● poems
● short stories
● dramatic

news
● cutlines

sports
● similar to news
● mix of editorial, features and news
● it should look active
● shouldn’t look dull
 ● back page

opt. sci-tech
● similar to feature but more sciency
● digital
● modern

b. magazine/folio
Magazines
● similar to newspaper layouts
● more creative
● more diverse
● not too technical
● can have white spaces

Parts of Magazines:

Cover
● nameplates
● cover stories
● folio
● feature stories
● most models in covered should look straight to viewers to catch their attention
● cover should be centrally focused on a single subject

Table of Contents
● not in newspapers
● contains the featured stories
● should highlight the centerfold feature
● stories should contain teasers

Editors or Contributors
● should include names, positions and descriptions of the editorial board
● comprehensive masthead
● pictures or illustrations must be shown
● use grids

Letter from the Editor

● whole page
● addresses the readers on what they would expect from the magazine
● biographical note
● picture of EIC
● different from letter from the editor in newspapers
● expresses the theme of the magazine
 ● joyful
● formally layouted
● prefuss of a book

Articles
● no strict rules
● layout heavy
● layout may or may not match the theme
● cover themes should stand out

Centerfold
● innermost fold
● represent the theme of the magazine
● heart of the magazine
● embodies an idea
● readers must have an idea on what the theme is about
● has a little description
● usually pictures or collages

Back Cover
● contextually related
● no cover stories
● goodbye note
● ends or closes the magazine
● concludes

c. design mastery

unity and harmony

● consistency
● headlines should complement each other
● picture should not distract the eye too much

balance
● pages should not seem top or bottom heavy (balance the amount)

emphasis
● according to importance or hierarchy
● highlight important ones than the others
● give the news the position it deserves
● things at the top are more important than the
● below

proportion
 ● general format must be pleasing
● ratio of headline by body text 1:2
● pictures must be sized properly

● jump story- continue on page….. (not recommended, kinda wasting space)

contrast
● pair light with heavy, serious with calm, etc.
● add an element to denote that its a new article
● boxes and pictures

IV. Working with Adobe

a. indesign
b. photoshop

V. Rules and Standards

a. do’s
DO:
● X- format, curve format, L-Format, J-Format, umbrella format

b. dont’s
AVOID:
● tombstoning- don’t align everything
● bad breaks
● separating related stories and pictures
● gray areas (use fillers instead)
● screaming headline- one that is too big for a short or unimportant story
● heavy tops
● many headlines of the same size (small heads on rather long stories)
● no hyphen

c. tips

● master monochrome (black and white)

● sa magazine na magcolour colour
● layout the front page and the back page as a spread
● centralise the center fold
● follow a certain colour scheme

Page Designing

guidelines
● have a focal point (theme)
 ● design with a purpose (master typography)
● keep it simple (but not minimalist)
● maintain design unity and consistency
● design should have contrast and balance

VI. Epilogue