Desktop publishing (DTP)

Page design and layout

A good appearance draws your readers in at first glance. So, before displaying your publications in a catalogue or shop window, make sure they look carefully presented and well-balanced, respecting the classic laws of harmony, that they transmit confidence. At textinnova we take care of designing, composing and collating the editorial product, inside and out, on physical or electronic media.

We work on the appearance of your books, from the way they look on the outside (cover, spine and back cover) through to other aspects such as the cover, the flaps, the strip and page design and composition. For this, we choose the most suitable elements for your type of publication and your brand identity, and we combine them with calculated harmony so they communicate solidity and credibility. We have all the computer programs and graphic resources we need to underpin the skilled work of the editorial designers and layout professionals and achieve the best outcome, one with a visual and emotional impact.

What elements do we take into account for editorial design?

Images. We choose the photographs, icons or vector graphics that illustrate your project accurately, contribute to your purpose and are consistent with the publication concept. We look for the best quality and resolution, as well as the appropriate size and format, both for publishing electronically and on paper. If it is an electronic publication, we also take care of correct labelling, as this improves natural positioning in search engines (SEO).

Typography. Our goal is to find the perfect fit with the subject, the images and the type of recipient you’re addressing; one that’s clear, inviting, functional and easy to read. We study different fonts, their modulations, their strokes, their proportions, etc., and we try out different options until we find the right one.

Colours. We compare, analyse, test a variety of ranges, textures and intensities, observing the effect they cause, the sensations they arouse, what they say about you with their own language. In addition, we examine a number of possibilities so we can make the right decision, because colours have a decisive influence on how your target perceives you, and consequently, on how they react.

Lines and shapes form the basis of the draft. They convey inertia or movement according to whether they’re flat or curved, regular or asymmetric; the create volumes and separate planes. The same applies to the use of colours, they respond to a particular code and have a huge ability to attract and persuade the reader, so we put the same care and attention in designing them.

In all cases, we send you our proposals so you can assess them and exchange opinions before selecting the designs that will achieve the desired impact in their finished version.

How do we put everything together?

The integration, distribution and a well-balanced arrangement of all the elements within the visual space ensure we build a harmonious compositional structure. Reaching that balance requires addressing factors such as the following:

Scale, essential to keep elements in proportion to each other according to their qualities and the context they’re part of.

Creating a grid or template for the layout. Made up of vertical and horizontal guides, it enables the content to be ordered and squared in a uniform way, according to a particular set of measurements.

Arrangement of figures on the page taking into account and compensating the weight of each one of them, so they all exert a similar visual impact. In this sense, even a deliberate imbalance, with a specific purpose, could be integrated into the whole without altering the composition.

The placement and organisation of the text on the pages: box size, margins, paragraph styles, headlines, captions, headings, footnotes, columns, ornamental elements, etc. The guidelines established in this respect will form the basis for the mock-up or master for layout.

Use of the most advanced technology, which enriches the pieces of work and offers a wealth of possibilities for composing them with speed, precision and efficiency.

Typesetting and final layout

Once the design of the publication has been defined in all its external and internal details, the text is composed and combined with all its graphic elements based on the master model. The corresponding styles are assigned to the titles, the body of the text, the notes, the quotes, etc. Tables, graphics, photographs and illustrations are inserted in the appropriate place in the text, in a well-balanced, clear way, applying the style defined for their heading or caption. In the composition of the text, attention is also paid to kerning, widow and orphan lines, breaking words at the end of a line.

To sum up, our design, composition and layout strategy is based on the pillars of art and technique, which we handle skilfully to guarantee a quality editorial product.

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