Author: Prof. Mary Brown

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Magazine Project Due – Final Instructions

Opening spread (pages 2&3): 11"x17"

The last day of class is Monday, May 20th. This is the day the magazine spread project is due. To offer a bit of clarity, here is an example of what you should plan to submit:

  • The magazine project is a total of five (5) InDesign pages all together: 1 magazine cover + 4 page magazine story.
  • The 4 magazine pages should be printed as 2 spreads.
  • A spread is 2 facing pages of a magazine.
  • The InDesign pages are 8.5″x11″. When they together as a spread they will be 11″x17″.
  • Save your final file as PDF spreads. Name your file properly. Ex.: COMD1127_BrownM_magazine and add it to the Google Drive folder that will be set up. DO NOT use cropmarks in your PDF file.
  • You will print out your magazine project in COLOR. The cover will be 1 single page of 8.5″x11; the 2 spreads will print on 11″x17″ pages.
  • You will submit both the PDF and printed versions.
  • See the examples below.
Magazine Cover: 8.5"x11"
Magazine Cover: 8.5″x11″

 

 

 

Opening spread (pages 2&3): 11"x17"
Opening spread (pages 2&3): print on 11″x17″

 

 

 

Second spread of remaining story (pages 4&5): print on 11"x17"
Second spread of remaining story (pages 4&5): print on 11″x17″

 

 

 

 

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Project #3 – Magazine Spread

The last major project of the semester is the magazine spread. During the last two classes, we learned about the anatomy of a magazine layout. Please download the handout if you didn’t get one in class.

Here is the assignment:

  • Design a magazine article: 4 pages, 2 spreads; design the magazine cover
  • The trim size is 8.5″x11
  • Topic
    Choice A: snowboarding – the text and photos have been provided for you.
    Choice B: a topic of your own, but it must be approved by the instructor first. You will be responsible for providing the text and photos for the assignment.
  •  Requirements include use of grid, headers, subheads, dropcaps, indents, columns, page numbers, images, captions, margins, gutters.

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The Type Book: Assembly Instructions

typebook

Every type book exercise is to be included. All of the exercises are listed below and should appear in your book in this order. The titles are based on the assignment sheets. Some of those handouts included more than one exercise. Hopefully this list is clear. If you have questions, please ask for clarification. Use the handouts as a guide for the number of pages included for each exercise.

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Classes 9 & 10 – Tracking, Kerning and Type on a Path

Tracking and Type Alignment

We took a look at how to digitally control tracking and the different type alignment options.  We were able to see what happens when tracking is too tight or too loose. We also took a closer look at what happens when we use justified text alignment. I discovered that one of the advantages of using justified text is that it can save space when a lot of text is used. We also saw a disadvantage that is awkward or bad word spacing that creates too much white space in paragraphs. Sometimes we see streams of this white space, which we call rivers (rivers of white space).

justified text
This is an example of what can happen when text is justified. The paragraph can end up with rivers–indicated by the red lines.

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Class 8 – How Text and Paragraphs are Affected by Different Alignments

This class was dedicated to the variations in type styles that are available. We discussed the differences in type — width, weight, posture, stress, serifs, and contrast.

width – condensed or extended

weight – light or bold

posture – italic or oblique (fake italic)

stress – vertical or diagonal

contrast – extreme or medium or low/none

serif – bracketed or unbracketed

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Class 6 and 7 — Multiple Pages in InDesign and a Review of the 5 Families of Type

calligraphy

We have discussed the five families of type since the early days of the semester.  Sometimes these are referred to as type  categories. Make sure you learn to identify the differences.

Here is quick review:

Old Style: Garamond
(15th-17th century)

  • designed in France in 1615 by Jean Jannon (Claude Garamond was
  • given credit originally)
  • designed in a time when inks and paper were coarse and type
  • technology was still rather rough
  • relatively thick strokes and heavily bracketed or curved serifs
  • emulated classical calligraphy

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Class 5 — Introduction to the Grid, Templates and the Type Book Project

typebook

Here’s a brief recap from Class 5. We had a quick introduction to the grid system and templates as they will be used with InDesign.

A grid is a non-printing system of horizontal and vertical lines which help the designer align the elements of the layout. This system of alignment helps to create a more organized layout. In multiple page documents, the grid assists in the consistent placement of design elements. Think of the grid as the skeleton of the layout—similar to the frame that you see on the construction site when a building or house is being built. We will go more in depth with grids a little later.

In InDesign we learned how to use a template, and how to name files before submission. We did this as we were introduced to the Type Book project.

We also covered using the line tool to create rules, strokes, and arrows in InDesign.

 

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