The Van De Graaf and The Canon
The Van De Graaf is a historical reconstruction of a method that may have been used in book design to divide a page into pleasing proportions. A gridded page is a lot like scaffolding for a building.
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| taken from wikipedia.com |
The Canon is also known as the 'secret Canon'.
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| My first go at drawing the canon/ Van der Graaf with a grid. |
The symmetrical layout has a fundamental important border used to accommodate your hands while holding the book.
Octavo format;
'An octavo is a book or pamphlet made up of one or more full sheets of paper on which 16 pages of text were printed, which were then folded three times to produce eight leaves. Each leaf of an octavo book thus represents one eighth the size of the original sheet.'
Leading
Column widths is more than just design or format - it is also based on legibility. Printed collateral (text) is read by the eye at a distance of 30-35cm.
According to empirical rule, there should be seven words per line for a text of any length to keep the type area light and open (in appearance).
Overlong text lines tire the eye, as do overshort ones. Wrong column widths lead to wasted time and energy.
A column is easy to read when it is wide enough to fit on average of 10 words per line.
The key is ease of reading. The text must not impair the rhythm of reading.
This rule does not apply to advertising, titles and subtitles, as they are designed to stand out.
Margin Proportions
Margins can have an influence on the overall feel of a page of print. Too small looks over-full and too large looks over-exaggerated. Well balanced margins on either side and the head and tail can create an agreeable impression.
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