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DESIGN.C13
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** E-Mail Desktop Publishing Design Course **
***** LESSON 5 *****
Symmetry and Asymmetry
One of the most fundamental differences in a design is whether the
layout is symmetric (centered) or asymmetric (off-center).
The choice between them profoundly affects the layout and feeling of a
page. In very simple terms, a symmetric layout is likely to produce a
more static, restful design, while an asymmetric scheme permits a more
lively and dynamic design.
The main question is, which is going to achieve the result you need to
get a particular sort of information over to a particular readership.
Because a symmetric layout is so static, it is easy to make it
pleasing, but boring. This is fine if you are publishing a novel where
the reader is just going to sit back and relax with it, but it is
extremely difficult to make such a layout an impulse read or to build
into it the signposts that lead a reader through complex and difficult
texts. There is also the temptation to "balance" the page by putting
illustrations in opposite corners.
If you are building up your skills then you are more likely to ACHIEVE
the results you want with an asymmetric layout.
In any case, don't mix the two. Their effect is so strong that any
attempt to combine them will look uncomfortable. If the layout of your
text pages is asymmetric, do not produce a centered title page.
One of the great advantages of an asymmetric layout is that it allows
for the dynamic use of space. This is particularly important if
illustrations are to be included.
There are a few principles which apply to any layout.
1. Do not be afraid of space or of using it dramatically. If a page
has a white hole in it, do not feel obliged to fill it up, use it to
show the contents of the page to advantage.
2. Not every column has to be filled with text. If the column runs
short naturally, let it. Don't space the lines out to fill a page.
This can change the "colour" of the text and can confuse the reader.
3. Space is as much a graphic tool as bold type or rules and boxes.
Think about it in the same way.
EXAMPLES: TITLE PAGE
┌────────────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐
│ │ │ │
│ BUDGET PLANNING │ │ ─────────── │
│ FOR │ │ BUDGET │
│ THE FUTURE │ │ PLANNING │
│ │ │ FOR THE │
│ │ │ FUTURE │
│ xxxxxxxxxxxx │ │ │
│ xxxxxxxx │ │ xxxxxxxxx │
│ │ │ xxxx │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ xxxxxxx │ │ xxxxxxx │
└────────────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘
SYMMETRIC ASYMMETRIC
EXAMPLES: INSIDE PAGES
┌────────────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────────────────┐
│ │ │──────────────── ┌──────┐ │
│ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX │ │XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX │ │ │
│ XXXXXXXX │ │XXXXXXXXXXXXX │ │ │
│ │ │──────────────── └──────┘ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ ┌───────┐ ═══════ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ │ │ ═══════ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ │ │ ═══════ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ └───────┘ ═══════ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ ════════ ═══════ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ ════════ ┌───────┐ │
│ ═══════ ════════ ═══════ │ ╞══════ ════════ │ │ │
│ ┌─────┐ ════════ ┌──────┐│ ╞══════ ════════ │ │ │
│ │ │ ════════ │ ││ ╞══════ ════════ └───────┘ │
│ └─────┘ ════════ └──────┘│ ╞══════ ════════ ═══════ │
└────────────────────────────┘ └────────────────────────────┘
***** End of Lesson 5 *****