CHAPTER 5

5.0 ELEMENTS OF CREATIVE GRAPHIC DESIGN

In addition to the two major elements of type and image, designer also
work with another category of elements with act as accents to type an d
image. Rules, borders, boxes and shading can help to organize a design
and give it visual weight. Each of these elements has its own particular
uses.

5.1 RULES

 Rules may be used to separate information or to provide a base

for a page layout. When placed horizontally between lines of
text, they can show a break of information.

 They can be used in the same fashion to create a barrier

between text and image. Used vertically, rules provide the
same functions, in addition to defining columns on the page.

 Rules are measured by weight in points from hairline (the

thinnest line) on up.

5.2 BORDERS

 Borders work as a frame to separate one element from another.

If an element such as a chart or graph, need special emphasis
in a design, placing a border around it can help it to stand on it
own.
 With a photograph, border can define the edges of the photo
as well as separate it from text. This is helpful when the photo
does not have a well-defined edge.

5.3 BOXES

 Boxes are simply borders that are filled in. You can fill in a box
with a color, or use a tint of color to fill it. Boxes work best with
larger type sizes and graphic elements because small type size
easily gets lost against the boxes fill.

 Boxes are used for the same purpose as borders, to separate an

element within the design.

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5.4 SHADING

 Shading or the use of tinted screens that are positioned behind

type, is accomplished by using screens with built-in ruling that
are graduated in darkness from a light (10%) tint to a dark (90%)
tint.

 These percentages refer to the amount of space that the black

tint dot occupies within an allocated box. A screen or box with
a 50% tint means that the black dot occupies 50% of the white.

 The designer should keep in mind that type is more difficult to

read when placed over a shaded area because this reduces
contrast between the type and the background. If the shade
pattern is too dark, the type becomes almost unreadable.

5.5 ALIGNMENT

There are four basic text alignment options you can use in your
design. Each one of these options has a different impact and lends
a different impression to your design. Text can bee aligned in the
following ways:

5.5.1 Basic text alignments

 Flush left
 Flush right
 Centered
 Justified

5.5.2 Advanced text alignments

 Runaround
 Asymmetric
 Concrete

5.5.3 Basic Text Alignments

Flush Left

 Flush left also called flush-left/ragged-right because the

first letters of the text are aligned on the left while the
right edge is allowed to flow naturally into a ragged
edge.

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 Some computer programs call this option aligns left or
just simply left. The irregular right edge tends to give the
page a light and somewhat airy look. Flush left is
considered by typography experts to be a very readable
text alignment.

Flush Right

 Flush right is classically called flush-right/ragged-left,

which some computer programs call align right or right.
This option works best for short amounts of text because it
is hard for the reader’s eye to find the start of the next
line, especially if the text line lengths are long.

Centered

 Centered type implies formality (imagine a wedding

invitation) and is commonly used in headline type. Try to
avoid using centered type for more than just a few short
phrases because the irregular left edge of the line of
type makes it difficult for the reader’s eye to find the
beginning of the next line of type.

Justified

 The justified text alignment option is also called flush-

right/flush-left. Justified type is very readable when set
properly and is widely used for body copy in all manner
of page designs. You will see a lot of justified columns of
type in newsletters, magazines, and brochures because
this text alignment allows for a higher word density.

 Advanced Text Alignments

Runaround

 Runaround text alignment is also called text wrap

because the type wraps around the photo, image,
graphic, or another piece of text. This text alignment is
commonly used in newsletters, brochures and other text-
intensive pages.

Asymmetric

 Asymmetric text alignment is visually very interesting but

difficult to read because few of the beginnings or ends of

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 lines align with each other; hence the viewer’s eye has to
work to find the beginning of the next line.

 It is best used for short lines of type because it is difficult

to read long sentence of asymmetric type. Asymmetric
text alignment conveys a sense of informality. Youth-
oriented magazines and ads use this text alignment a lot
because of these qualities.

Concrete

 Concrete text alignment is where the arrangement of

the type takes on the shape of the action or the object
being described. This alignment is difficult to read but
often visually interesting. This text alignment has much
creative potential if you have the time and patience.