REFERENCE > TOP TEN RULES OF GOOD TYPESETTING
One of our visitors suggested that we create a top ten list that would cover the most important basic rules of typesetting for a novice designer. We thought it might be a good idea to create such a list, so we are pleased to present it to you here...
10. Use a font that is appropriate for the job.
In most cases, for example, you probably wouldn't want to use a grunge font for the body text in a corporate brochure. Use a font that will best target your audience, and...
Don't use too many different fonts in your layout. Generally no more than 4 fonts should be used in a layout, including the italics.
9. Choose suitable point sizes.
The point size should not be so small that it compromises legibility, nor should it be so large that the text seems cramped or overwhelming. Use a leading amount that will add a comfortable amount of space between the lines and make the text easier to read.
8. Set the space between paragraphs.
In some cases it is appropriate to use 2 hard returns between paragraphs, but
in most cases this adds more space than is visually pleasing. Get used to
setting a "Space After" settings in your layout software and then
using only
7. Use hard spaces & discretionary hyphens.
When manually hyphenating words in a text block, always use a discretionary hyphen (usually "command-hyphen" on a Mac). This way, if the text reflows and the word is no longer broken, the hyphen will automatically disappear.
Use a hard space (usually "command-space" on a Mac) to put spaces between characters that should never be separated. If the text is reflowed, these words will always stay together on the same line. This is particularly important when you are setting numbers and dates.
6. Let your service bureau know which fonts are used in your document and be sure to provide any obscure fonts which they may not have.
Make sure that you also provide fonts that are embedded in the eps documents used in your main layout documents. In QuarkXpress, for example, when you show the fonts used in the document using "Font Usage" it will NOT list fonts that are used within your illustrations.
5. Use Style Sheets and Master Pages.
When you are creating a multiple page document, or a complex single-page layout, it is wise to use style sheets. With each style that you build you can quickly pick the font, point size, leading, paragraph specifications, and other text data, and then give that style a keyboard command of your choosing. You can then select any paragraph or line of text in your document and automatically change its specifications to match those of one of the styles that you have created. The main advantage of this, is that if you want to make changes to the styles, you can simply change the settings and all occurrences of the text using that style in your document, will automatically be updated.
Headers, Footers, page numbers, and all other items that will be common to a large number of pages, should be put on master pages so that they will automatically be in the same spot on every page. Once again, if you change items on the master pages, those changes will be reflected on all the document pages that are based on the changed master page.
4. Use proper quotation marks.
The old tick marks (usually beside the return key) are NOT the proper marks to use for double and single quotation marks. Instead, use the proper marks:
MAC opening double quote = option-{
MAC closing double quote =
option-shift-{
MAC opening single quote = option-}
MAC closing single
quote = option-shift-}
PC opening double quote = alt-0147
PC closing
double quote = alt-0148
PC opening single quote = alt-0145
PC closing
single quote = alt-0146
3. Type only one space after a period!
Two spaces after a period is a thing of the past.
The reason you may have learned to type two spaces after a period was that you were typesetting on a typewriter. As a typewriter set fixed-pitch type (i.e. the widths of all the letters were the same and no kerning pairs were possible), the letters set very loosely, that made it necessary to add an extra space between sentences to make the break more obvious. With modern fonts, the letters are spaced and kerned much more tightly and the extra space after the period is unnecessary. The increased space actually becomes distracting and emphasizes the breaks too much.
2. Leave some White Space.
There is nothing worse than a document that is too cramped. If the layout is too busy, it is difficult to focus on the text, and the objective (that is to communicate information) can be lost.
The tendency to put too much information in an advertisement, or to try and integrate too many design elements into a layout is usually the mark of a novice designer.
White space (i.e. parts of your "page" that remain unprinted, or are only lightly printed) can do more for the "feel" of your design than can the actual printed areas. Filling a page with information can overwhelm your audience and distract them to the point that they fail to understand (or they simply ignore) the message that you really want to convey.
Give your graphics and the type on the page some room to breathe. Think about which part of your design your audience will first be drawn to. From that point, is there an easy path their eyes can take to other important elements on the page, or is it difficult to decide where to look next? Use white space to better emphasize your elements and to help guide your audience through the design.
When you are designing in black and white (in particular) it is of utmost importance that you include enough white space around the edges of your page. In most cases, page elements that are placed too close to the edges, make those elements appear to be uncomfortably cramped. It is kind of similar to watching a movie from the front row of the cinema. You need to sit far enough back that your eyes can easily follow the action on the screen.
There are ways to set your type that can work hand in hand with the white space in your design. One way to make your type less dense and often more legible, is to increase the leading of the lines. Increasing the tracking can also produce pleasing results when you wish to introduce more space between the letters in the words on a line.
In summary, the right amount of white space is a delicate balance that depends largely on what effect you are trying to achieve. Do make a conscious effort to introduce white space into all your designs. Sometimes less really is more.
And the number one rule of good typesetting is:
1. Proofread your documents carefully.
It is easy to make typos, but they may not jump out at you unless you take the time to carefully proofread the text that you have set. When you are typing quickly, it is easy to make simple mistakes. So many novice typesetters have had their first dose of major embarrassment in the workplace by printing large quantities of a job (and spending lots of company money) and then discovering a MAJOR typo that could have been easily corrected if the document had been proofed.
When proofreading, keep in mind that you should also be watching out for widows and orphans. Eliminate them at all costs.
It is generally best to proofread a printout of the document, rather than by viewing the text onscreen, and you should ALWAYS have your document proofread by someone other than yourself, as it is easy to overlook your own mistakes. This DOES NOT exclude you from proofreading the document yourself, as carefully as you can.
If you can think of any important rules of basic typesetting which you think are just as important, or perhaps even more important, please send us an e-mail to tips@TypeArt.com.
© 1997 Lloyd Springer
And in case you have been searching for some alternate uses for your pica ruler, here are a few suggestions:
Top Ten Alternative Uses for a Pica Ruler
10. Relieve those annoying itches by using your pica ruler as a backscratcher
9. Try your luck by using it as a "extra-challenging" fly swatter
8. Here's a shocker: use it to remove bread that gets stuck in the toaster.
7. Create all sorts of unusual sounds by vibrating it on the edge of your desk while waiting for something to print (it can also serve as a one-keyed African finger piano)
6. Use it to punish yourself every time you forget to use proper curly quotes or whenever you type two spaces after a period.
5. Retrieve diskettes or CDs that are jammed in your computer, or remove objects that have fallen behind heavy pieces of office furniture.
4. Use it to butter bread and cut sandwiches when you don't have a knife
3. Play doctor with that cute graphic designer in the next room... it makes the perfect tongue depressor.
2. Practise swallowing it so that you can get that sword swallowing job at the circus. Amaze your friends!
But the number one alternative use for a pica ruler is for the guys:
1. Use it to measure your manhood in picas! (It almost always makes you seem longer, and when the subject comes up in casual conversation, most laymen won't realize that there are six picas to the inch!)