Irrespective of the idea or the budget there are always some fixed elements that must be present in order to make any layout visually appealing and pleasant to the eyes. Following are some of the basic elements of a layout:
1. Colour
Colour is a very important element in a layout planning. A poor choice of colour may ruin the whole layout. While choosing a colour, the theme, the idea behind and the target audience must be kept in mind. While talking of colour, both text and background colour must be taken into account. The text colour must contrast well with the background colour. It is advisable not to put light-coloured text on a light background or put dark-coloured text on a dark background as it will badly affect the ability of the reader to read the text. Once a colour is chosen, the purpose of using it must be justified and a strong reason for it to be given. Colours are not present merely to make the design look bright and attractive. Rather, each colour has its own associations in the human mind. All such aspects must be taken into consideration while choosing any colour. In the next unit, you will learn more about colour in detail.
2. Text
When we talk of a layout, it is a combination of both – the text and the images. Thus, both the aspects need to be taken care of by the designer in order to assure an effective result. As far as the text is concerned, it includes all the written part of a layout. Be it the body copy, the taglines, address etc. all are included in the text. There are several attributes that are added to text like bold, italic and underline. Also, different fonts are available to choose from. With the help of a computer, we can create dramatic effects in the text very easily. But, what needs to be taken care of is the fact that text must be easy on the eye, clear and legible to the reader. The content must never be over powered by the effects.
3. Purpose
The purpose of the layout must be absolutely clear to the designer. What is the layout all about? For whom is it intended? etc., all such questions must be answered before the task of layout is started. The purpose is what makes it clear as to what type of the final output is desired. For example, a layout of a women’s magazine would be very different from the layout of a kids’ magazine. Thus, it is the purpose that makes the work focussed.
4. Size
The size of the page is another important factor that needs to be kept in mind. It is because knowing the page size tells us the exact space to work with. The size of a design must be in harmony with the page size to ensure effectiveness of the same. Therefore, it is always essential to know the page size before the process of planning for layout has begun.
5. Bleeds and Margins
Most page layouts allow for bleeds in the design. As a designer, you should plan accordingly. A bleed basically extends the graphical elements past the document size so that when the piece is being trimmed, there are no white lines around the document. For that reason, you should also give yourself an appropriate margin in your document set up for important elements such as body copy or company information. Hence, keeping in mind the margin space and the bleed area is a must while planning any layout.