Random Type Stuff

Multicolumn grids are especially useful in formats where more flexibility is needed, instances with complex hierarchy or uses of both text and illustrations. The format becomes more and more flexible the more columns you create.

Baseline grids are used to anchor the content in a common pattern. It gives a sense of better flow and rhythm to a design.

A hang line is when a designer chooses to use a horizontal grid line from which items can "hang". This can create uniformity across a page format.

Centered text:
-Is formal and classic
-Is used to create elegant, organic shapes
-Should always utilize variance in line length

Justified text:
-Creates a clean shape on the page
-Uses space efficiently
-Can create ugly gaps between words
-Should always use a line length that is long enough to conform to the type size

Ragged text:
-Respects the organic flow of language
-Avoids uneven spaces
-Doesn't need excessive hyphenation
-Needs to be checked to prevent weird shapes forming in the ragging edge

Typographic rivers appear when coincidental line spacing lines up from one line to the next, creating ugly gaps in type running down the page. They can be especially obvious in justified text.

Type color or texture is the term used to refer to the value of a block of copy on a page. Depending on the font, the block of text may seem black or gray, or nearly colorless. This is something to take into consideration when examining page hierarchy. Reducing leading can lend a denser color while expanding leading has the opposite effect.

There are a number of ways to indicate new paragraphs. The most common way is by indenting the first line. However, adding extra space between paragraphs is cool, too. Just don't ever indent and add extra space. Also, never indent the first line of the first paragraph.

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