• This is an asymetrical-five-column grid based on the golden section, a design tool for layout composition (multiply the length or width by .618 to break into grid sections). The golden section provides for more dynamic composition possibilities.
• Be careful to be consistent in how you treat similar elements. The reader has to learn how to process the organization of information, make it easy for them to get into the material.
• The layout, like imagery, should support the content.
• Smaller column for captions or sidebars, and, or a smaller column for white space, which gives breathing room to the reader.
• The grid is divided both horizontally and vertically. This allows symetry throughout the layout.
• Part of the layout should account for a header, a footer, and a page number if required.

1. You can "bleed" art work off the page, make sure that the bleed is at least 1/4 of an inch over the page and that the imagery in the "Dead Area" is unimportant to the message. Crop the imagery carefully!
2. Dead Area, a margin around the layout in which no live copy should appear. Protects against printer errors and the loss of important information.
3. By breaking the layout into five-nonequal columns you have the opportunity to use a combination of design configurations.
4. Live Area, the portion of the layout which contains all important information. Gives the reader a border for visual relief.

E-Mail Doug at mrdoug@aznet.net or Melissa at melissa_mckinstry@hotmail.com