LESSON 6
Rules, Boxes, and Other Graphical Devices
Most of these devices serve to separate text. Whether or not they give emphasis or merely divide one piece of copy from another depends on how you use them.

RULES
In headings rules can be used to give drama and vigor. They can also be used to contain very long wordy headings. Heading rules can be heavier than rules used within text, but they should not dominate the typeface.

"In the text" rules make a barrier. This can be used effectively but there must be a good reason why the reader should be stopped in his tracks. Rules used within a column will tend to divide and separate, whereas used across two columns they will divide the from the text above but link the columns below.

As with any other device of this kind, they will be more effective if used sparingly. Use the same weight of rule throughout. Degrees of importance indicated by weight of rule will be lost on most readers. If you do need to use different weights of rule make them clearly different, otherwise it will look like a mistake.

Ruled-off text must be positioned with care. If it is not part of the surrounding copy, then find a"natural" break to drop it into. If it is continuous with the text then make sure it falls within a column, don't break it from one column to the next.

 

	BOXES Boxed copy is material which is usually relevant to the contents of the rest of the page but can be read separately and in isolation from it. For this reason each box should be given a heading or subtitle of its own. If this doesn't seem appropriate then check whether you really want a box or whether horizontal rules would do the job better.

Boxes can greatly effect the pace or "color" of a page and they should be positioned carefully. They do not have to be adjacent to relevant copy within the main text but they should at least appear on the same spread. Treat them as you would illustrations.

A box should be the same width as the column or pair of columns it sits in. So the text will have to be set to a narrower width to allow for the thickness of the rule and the space between the box and the text. Always allow a comfortable space around the text, at least the equivalent of a double indent, otherwise it will look pinched and uncomfortable. Although it can look decorative it is not often a good idea to box an entire page. The visual effect is to constrict the page and lose the benefit of the surrounding white space. There is also the very real risk that if in trimming the pages they may be slightly off-square and the straight edges of the box coming near the edges will emphasize the error.

 

TINT PANELS Tint panels are another way of separating copy. Placing tint panels and their use is very similar to boxed text, and the same advice goes to use them sparingly.

A gray tint panel behind black text weakens the text, so make sure the text is strong enough to take it. A dot tint of more than 15% gray, for example, will break down the definition of fine serifs and a very dark tint can obliterate the text altogether. It is best to use a sanserif type in tint panels. Dot tints can give an unsightly ragged edge to the panel. This can be avoided by putting a fine box around it.

BULLETS AND ARROWS
Sometimes ordinary subheadings don't seem to be enough and more graphic signposts are called for in text. Their size will depend on their context but remember if they are well used the reader will rely on them as a guide, so it is important to use them logically and consistently.

Bullets are a fairly familiar device used mostly to emphasize particular paragraphs.

• They can be set into the text like a run-on heading so that they act as a pointer without giving too much emphasis.

  or they can be treated as a hanging indent, which means that they stick out clearly into the margin and draw more attention.

Bullets can be very powerful against the adjacent text so they should be made smaller than the capitals. Always use the same size of bullet throughout one document and use it for the same degree of emphasis. Differences between one size of bullet and another will hard for the reader to recognize and may lead to confusion.

 
 
Arrows are a much more powerful image and should be used more discriminately. Arrows can be used either to draw very insistent attention to a particular piece of text or to link one piece of text with another. If arrows are used too freely they will lose their impact. If there are a lot of points to emphasize it is better to use bullets and reserve the arrow for an occasional highlight.

 

LESSON 6: Rules, Boxes, and Other Graphical Devices

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