| u’ve decided to create photo books, you might | | | | they put on the page, they think about the |
| do well to think a little about page layout. Most likely | | | | arrangement in terms of what those elements, as |
| your photo books are going to be combinations of | | | | shapes, do in terms of giving the page structure. |
| words and photographs. You’re probably | | | | If you really want your pages to look aesthetically |
| aware that some online photo gallery and storage | | | | pleasing, you should think about the shapes that the |
| sites offer you the opportunity to make photo books. | | | | elements make out of the empty space that remains |
| These photo books are professionally printed and look | | | | on the page. This is called negative space, and your |
| like real books. Why not invest a little effort and make | | | | first priority is to make sure the pages of the photo |
| the page layout look like a real book too? | | | | book you are creating look organized. One way to do |
| There are a few basic principles graphic designers use | | | | this is to think of the page in terms of a grid. The grid is |
| to lay out pages that you should be aware of. While | | | | never visible in the finished page, but think of your |
| there are no hard and fast rules to a creative discipline | | | | favorite newspaper. Think of how the columns, the |
| like graphic design, there are some principles that all | | | | photos and the headlines are arranged. Even though |
| graphic designers are thoroughly versed in, and in | | | | you don’t actually see the grid itself, you can |
| practice rarely, if ever, violate. These principles are | | | | look at the pages of this newspaper and know where |
| simple, and don’t require the kind of visual talent | | | | the grid is, can’t you? A grid is a great way to |
| you’d need to paint the Sistine chapel, by any | | | | organize pages, not just for beginners but for |
| stretch of the imagination. In fact, they don’t | | | | professional designers. |
| require as much talent as taking good pictures to | | | | Are you planning on using text, either to tell a story or |
| understand and apply. | | | | to caption your photographs when you create photo |
| The first thing you need to think about when you are | | | | books? There are a couple of things to bear in mind. |
| arranging things on a page—in this case, | | | | Firstly, color. As tempting as it is to use pretty colors |
| you’re arranging pictures and text to make a | | | | on a prettily colored page for your text, if you want |
| photo book—is how arrange the elements on the | | | | people to be able to read the text in your photo book, |
| page. This includes thinking about what stuff goes on | | | | the color of the text and the color of the page need to |
| which page, and where to put it relative to the other | | | | be as different as possible. That’s why most |
| elements. That is an important notion—the notion | | | | books are black and white—it makes it easier to |
| that things are placed relative to other elements. | | | | read. |
| Graphic designers think not only about the elements | | | | |