LAYOUT BASICS

  1. Overview
  2. Thumbnail Layouts
  3. Rough Layout
  4. Comprehensive Layout

Overview

  1. To a graphic Designer a layout is the organization of visual material.
  2. A layout is sometimes referred to as a visual blueprint of an ad or a printed piece and it is used as a guide.
  3. The layout is used to show the advertiser or the art director how the finished ad will look.
  4. The three basic types of layouts used to create ads are thumbnails, roughs and comprehensive.
  5. Even though computers are used for the finished layout, the layout artist should be familiar with traditional methods and materials for the beginning stages of design.
  6. The design process of codifying, creating, and producing may account for 90% of the work involved in the production of a graphic product.
  7. In the codifying process, the layout artist gathers information such as size, shape of the ad, when and where it will appear, page position, amount of copy, method of reproduction, time and cost allowed, and production information.
  8. The designer selects the most important feature of the product or service and emphasizes it.
  9. The visual flow moves the reader through the ad in a predetermined way.
  10. A dummy is a set of mock pages, cut and folded, indicating the position of text, numbers, and illustration as they appear in a proposed leaflet, folder, booklet, or book.

Thumbnail Layout

  1. Thumbnail layouts are quick simple sketches used to explore many layout ideas.
  2. These loose sketches are not detailed and only suggest in general outline, how the design will look,
  3. The images should be sketched in a scaled down proportion of the finished size.
  4. The experienced artist will usually work up several thumbnail sketches before selecting one to do full size.

Rough Layout

  1. The rough layout is the second step in the planning stage and is prepared from a thumbnail.
  2. The rough is used to show size and space relationships between copy and white space.
  3. Roughs are done in the actual size of the ad or a printed piece.
  4. The major ad elements and their placements are indicated with a small amount of detail
  5. The balance, flow and unity of the design are established at this point.
  6. Some of the materials used are markers, pencils, tracing paper, bond paper or computer.

Comprehensive Layout

  1. This layout is done to actual size and used to show what the finished job will look like before it goes to press.
  2. Traditional comps were time consuming, and expensive but today the computer makes the job faster and less expensive.
  3. Body copy is another word for text. In a comp It is indicated precisely in designated areas.

Thumbnail / Rough / Comprehensive
Function / Explore ideas
Develop ideas / Visual size & space relationships / Duplicate printed job
Get client approval
Size / Reduced in proportion / Job size
Actual size / Job size
Actual size
Care In Preparation / Not critical / Reasonable / Exact detail
Color / Not critical / Close / Exact paper & ink colors
Degree Of Realism / Suggested / Approximate / Duplicate finished job
Tools & Materials / Pencil
Pen & ink
Bond paper / Pencil
Pen & ink
Bond paper / Computer
thumbnai / Rough / comprehensive

Name______Period______Date______

Layout Basic Worksheet

  1. What is the designer ‘s term for the organization of visual material?
  2. What is the purpose of function of a thumbnail?
  3. What is the function of a rough layout?
  4. How is art handled on a thumbnail layout?
  5. What are the most common layouts used to develop an ad?
  6. Which layout is a scaled down proportion of the finished ad?
  7. What type of layout is used to establish the balance, flow, and unity of an ad?
  8. Which layout is used to show what the finished job will look like?
  9. What is another tern for body copy?
  10. What is the size of a rough layout?
  11. What is the size of a comprehensive layout?
  1. What three things account for 90% of the work involved in the production of a
    graphic product?
  1. Explain the codifying process.
  2. What should the designer emphasize in a layout?
  3. What moves the reader through the ad in a predetermined way?
  4. What is the layout sometimes referred to?
  5. What type of layout is used to gain client approval?
  6. What is a dummy and what is it used for?

______correct X 5.5______

Project #1 Understanding Layout | Designing a Business Card

Total points 200

Develop a “job sheet “ to aid in the collection of important information needed for the layout of a business card for yourself. This business card should be for a graphic designer.

Include at least six items (refer to Overview # 7 for these items)

.

This job sheet will be used to set up all projects. It will be a reminder of what you need to know before you start the project. Sometimes you will get it from me on an assignment description and some times you will have to figure it out for yourself.

DESIGN the format for this form.

This form that you will send to client will reflect your design and organizational skills. If designers cannot design for themselves, how can they design for anyone else?

Design of the form25 pts

Complete information included 25 pts

Turned in on time25 pts

Neat, accurate, no spelling errors 25 pts

Total points100 pts

Thumbnails

Do six thumbnails that reflect this information (refer to thumbnails 1-4).

Completed the correct number of thumbnails20pts

Explored many different ideas (not changing art)15 pts

Complete, neat, professional, and on time15 pts

Total points50 pts

Roughs

Create three roughs based on the thumbnails

Completed the correct number of roughs20pts

Visualize space, font sizes accurate, include all info 15 pts

Complete, neat, professional, and on time15 pts

Total points50 pts

Remember the thumbnail and rough are done off computer.

Nicholson | design fundamentals