Print Materials Layout And Composition Guide
Print materials such as brochures, posters, and business cards have layout and composition guidelines that, if followed, make them effective marketing materials in Minuteman Press Somerset West’s experience. There is a purpose to every white space and element in the composition.
Composition Defined
The building block of all good design is composition - how you arrange all the elements. The structure created by the arrangement of this content will guide your readers and help you communicate your message effectively.
Master Composition With These Fundamentals
Although it may seem daunting to master composition, it is actually quite simple. These principles will help you take your designs to the next step:
Proximity
How do you determine how far different elements in your content should be from each other? Visual space shows the relationship between related items and unrelated items. You can place items such as text and photos close to each other to show that they are connected or add elements to show that two items are unrelated, for example.
Whitespace
This is the negative space in your design - the area that is empty. Although designers are free to use the white space however they wish, it is one of the best ways to separate sections. White space will also make your work appear less cluttered and uncomfortable.
Alignment
The most important thing when aligning objects is to be consistent. This applies to the alignment of paragraphs, words, and images. You can create a well-organized feel for your work by using consistent alignment.
Contrast
Contrast can simply mean that one thing is more than the other. Two opposing elements can be used to draw attention, grab the eyes, or emphasise layout and composition. Imagine a page with a lot of white background and small letters. You can add one simple red block with large letters somewhere on this page. This block will stand out.
Contrast can be created by:
- Contrasting colours
- Multiple fonts
- Different sized items
Hierarchy
It's easy to create a hierarchy. The first step is to decide which elements should be noticed by the reader. Then, make sure they stand out. You can emphasise important information in various ways, including bolding it, changing the font size, placing it differently, and so on. If you follow the guidelines, your marketing materials will make a lasting impression on potential customers. Contact Minuteman Press Somerset West today for your print materials.