Letter Compositions
Introduction
The overall effectiveness of your work depends upon its composition. To
determine the proper arrangement of lettering, use standard rules of design.
Lettering compositions may be formal or informal.
Compositions
How you compose lettering on layouts directly contributes to or detracts from
the intended message. Lettering should be an integral part of the
composition, not added after the main art is done. Once you have all the
information for the layout, begin brainstorming ideas that fit the attitude of
the message. Sketch several possible layouts. These sketches may be
comprehensive or rough so long as you can evaluate the effectiveness of the
composition. These preliminary layouts are called thumbnail sketches.
Thumbnail sketches prevent having to redo work because the lettering will
not fit or appears awkward.
Figure 5-33 shows how even rough thumbnail sketches are invaluable for
assessing an effective composition.
Figure 5-33.—Thumbnail sketches.
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