ASL 110: Word Processing & Desktop Publishing 1/ASL Software Publishing - Word Processing - Desktop Publishing PAK 1 (1995).ISO/aslvol10/appl12/rup22c.exe/TEXT.TWO

Text File | 1991-04-14 | 7KB | 158 lines

Column Layout Guidelines

For a page interior 7 inches wide, the following column layouts may
be considered:

Arrangement 1. <60>column measure=7.0in<62> or <60>column count=1<62>.
One column 7 inches wide fills the page.

Arrangement 2. <60>column measure=3.25in gutter=0.5in<62> or <60>column
count=2 gutter=0.5in<62>. Two columns 3-1/4 inches wide, and one 1/2-inch
gutter fill the page.

Arrangement 3. <60>column measure=2.16in gutter=0.25in<62> or <60>column
count=3 gutter=0.25in<62>. Three columns 2.16 inches wide, and two 1/4-inch
gutters fill the page.

While these three arrangements all make efficient use of the available
space, they will not all produce an equally readable page. Several
narrow columns are easier to read than one very wide column, provided
that each column is wide enough to contain a reasonable number of
words of average length. The proper width for a column therefore depends
on the type size: in general, the smaller the type, the narrower the
columns should be. The following table gives the minimum, maximum,
and optimum (best) line length, in picas (6ths of an inch) for the
type sizes commonly used.

<ab>Line Length in Picas for Common Type Sizes<xb><qc>
<include tab.one>

<HS><au>Type Size<xu><HT><au>Minimum<xu><HT><au>Optimum<xu><HT><au>Maximum<xu><HE>

<HS>6<HT>8<HT>10<HT>12<HE>
<HS>7<HT>8<HT>11<HT>14<HE>
<HS>8<HT>9<HT>13<HT>16<HE>
<HS>9<HT>10<HT>14<HT>18<HE>
<HS>10<HT>13<HT>16<HT>20<HE>
<HS>11<HT>13<HT>18<HT>22<HE>
<HS>12<HT>14<HT>21<HT>24<HE>
<HS>14<HT>18<HT>24<HT>28<HE>
<HS>16<HT>21<HT>27<HT>32<HE>
<HS>18<HT>24<HT>30<HT>36<HE>

<ql>
Text is commonly printed in type sizes in the range of 8 to 12 points.
From the foregoing table, it is apparent that the 7-inch lines of
Arrangement 1 are unduly long for type sizes in this range. Arrangement
2 is close to the optimum for 12-point type. Arrangement 3 is the
optimum for 8-point type. For 10-point, either Arrangement 2 or 3
would be acceptable.

Of course, the values given in the foregoing table (especially for
maximum line length) should be regarded as guidelines, rather than rigid
rules. For some documents, it may be necessary to depart from these
values, for a variety of reasons, even though this will result in some
loss of readability. For example, the table specifies a maximum line
length of 4 inches or less for 12-point or smaller type sizes, but
despite this, some kinds of documents set in 12-point or smaller type
are routinely formatted in a single full-width column (like Arrangement
1) to comply with custom or tradition, or because such a format is
required by law or government regulation.

<ql>
Leading (Line Spacing)

In typesetting terminology, <ai>leading<xi> (pronounced ``ledding'')
refers to the vertical spacing between lines of type, measured from
baseline of one line to the baseline of the next.

The tag: <60>leading line= para= <62>, where<QL>
<M>line= defines the inter-line leading or ``line spacing'',
and<QL>
<M>para= defines the inter-paragraph leading or ``paragraph
spacing'',<QL>
is used to define the vertical spacing between lines and paragraphs.
This tag takes effect at at the end of the current output line. Any
unit of measurment accepted by the Publisher may be used in this tag:
``points'' (72nds of an inch, abbreviated ``pt'') is the most commonly
used.

Line leading is space between output lines, measured from baseline
to baseline. Paragraph leading is an extra amount of vertical space
added between paragraphs. The last line of one paragraph and the first
line of the next paragraph are separated by the normal line leading
plus the paragraph leading (measured from baseline to baseline).

The amount of leading used is to some extent a matter of style: however,
it must be sufficient to ensure that the descenders of one line do
not overlap the capital letters or ascenders of the next line, and
if underlining is being used in the text, additional leading may be
needed to accommodate it. The amount of leading needed obviously depends
on the point size of the type. It may also depend on the typeface:
some styles have longer ascenders and descenders than others.

The following table provides guidelines for the appropriate leading
for various type sizes.

<ab>Line Leading in Points for Common Type Sizes<xb><qc>
<include tab.one>

<HS><au>Type Size<xu><HT><au>Minimum<xu><HT><au>Optimum<xu><HT><au>Maximum<xu><HE>

<HS>6<HT>6<HT>7<HT>7<HE>
<HS>7<HT>7<HT>8<HT>8.5<HE>
<HS>8<HT>8<HT>9.5<HT>10<HE>
<HS>9<HT>9<HT>11<HT>12<HE>
<HS>10<HT>10<HT>12<HT>13<HE>
<HS>11<HT>12<HT>13<HT>14<HE>
<HS>12<HT>14<HT>15<HT>16<HE>
<HS>14<HT>17<HT>18<HT>20<HE>
<HS>16<HT>20<HT>20<HT>22<HE>
<HS>18<HT>23<HT>23<HT>24<HE>

<ql>
When the type size changes from one line to the next, a minimum value
for the leading between the two lines may be calculated as 1/3 the
minimum leading for the point size of the first line, <ai>plus<xi> 2/3
the minimum leading for the point size of the second line. Example: If
one line is in 6-point type and the next line is in 9-point, the minimum
leading between the two lines should be 1/3 x 6 + 2/3 x 9 = 8 points. If
the calculated value includes a fraction, it is prudent to round it up
to the next point; for example the calculation of the minimum leading
between a line of 12-point type and a following line of 10-point is 1/3
x 14 + 2/3 x 10 = 11-1/3 points, so a leading of at least 12 points
should be used.

<ql>
General Comments

To some extent, choosing a page layout is a matter of personal
preference: different people have different ideas about how a page
should look. However, some general guidelines can be given for
producing pages of text which most readers will find attractive and easy
to read. (These guidelines do not necessarily apply to specialized forms
of document, such as advertisements.)

The first general rule is to refrain from trying to crowd too much text
into a page. The use of unduly narrow margins and gutters, minimum line
leading, etc., results in a page which looks cramped and hard to read.
If you need to get more text on a page, it is usually better to choose a
smaller point size of type (as long as it is not <ai>too<xi> small),
with adequate margins, leading, etc..

The second rule is to avoid using too many different sizes, styles and
weights of type. The Shareware Edition of the Rubicon Publisher includes
two complete typeface families comprising 36 individual fonts (and other
Editions provide a larger selection), but this does not mean that you
should be using them all in the same document! Frequent font changes may
be eye-catching, and suitable for advertising layouts, but a page of
ordinary text with too many font changes simply looks confusing.

Finally, print enhancements<L->bold face, italics, and
underlining<L->should be used sparingly. They are normally used to
distinguish the enhanced text from the main text, for emphasis or for
some other purpose, but the effect is lost if they are used too often.
If too much of the text is enhanced, the enhanced parts fail to stand
out. This is true even in advertising layouts: If everything is
emphasized, nothing is emphasized.