The Yearbook Blog

No, thank you, we don’t need a tissue. x-height is a typography term referring to the height of the body of lowercase letters, not counting ascenders or descenders. Typically, this is the height of the letter x in the font (hence the name–now do you get it?), as well as the u, v, w, and z. Why is it important? When two typefaces are set in the same point size, one often looks bigger than the other. Why? Because bigger x-heights make a typeface appear larger. Differences in line weight and character width also affect the letters’ apparent scale. When choosing fonts for captions, by-lines and other smaller bodies of text, checking x-height can help with readablilty.

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “X” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

If you’ve been paying attention in math, you know it’s the horizontal axis on a graph. How is it relevant in Yearbook Land? Well, designing on a grid is basically using a graph. If you know the X axis of an element (what pica the bottom of the element rests on), you can line up other elements on the same line or equidistance away. It’s very handy when using internal margins less than a pica wide. Both Adobe InDesign and HJ eDesign have places to input the X (and Y) values for individual or multiple objects to ensure exact alignment.

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “X” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

We already told you why we don’t like orphans (if you forgot, just look at the O card). Now, we are delighted to tell you why we hate widows, too. What is a widow? It’s the last line of a paragraph that falls on the beginning of the next page or column, thus separated from the remainder of the text. The moral of the story: Don’t leave a sentence hangin’. Make sure it always has some company so it isn’t left stranded at the the top of the page all alone.

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “W” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

You know how sometimes you just don’t get it, and someone says, “Do I have to draw you a picture?” Well, sometimes a visual is a much more powerful form of communication. How does that translate in yearbook language? Easy! Try graphics to enhance your story.

• Create graphs to show comparisons (Number of students who use iPhone, Blackberry, flip phone, slider phone, etc.)
• Use large graphic numbers to show participation (Fall Play/Musical spread–number of actors, stage hands, set designers/builders, choreographers, musicians, lighting technicians, sound technicians, etc.)
• Make tables or grids for scoreboards instead of just lists

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “V” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

(Pronounced pie-ka) It’s the measurement of all those little squares on your layout grids. One pica has 12 points in it. Pica measurements are represented like this: “5p6” (or “5 picas and 6 points” or “5 1/2 picas”). But what IS a pica? According to Dictionary.com, a pica is…

• “A printer’s unit of type size, equal to 12 points or about 1/6 of an inch.”

• “An equivalent unit of composition measurement used in determining the dimensions of lines, illustrations, or printed pages.”

• “A type size for typewriters, providing ten characters to the inch.”

• “An abnormal craving or appetite for nonfood substances, such as dirt, paint, or clay.”**

(**Okay, that last one has nothing to do with yearbooks, but thought you might want to know!)

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “P” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

Also known as strokes, these are graphic lines used to enhance the look of a page design or to help with the hierarchy of elements. Elements that are framed draw more attention and thus demand that we look at them first. Rule lines can also denote connection, separation, movement, mood or emotion. For example: rule lines can be used to separate two columns of text or different bodies of text within a single column; or when used as a frame, they can connect all the elements of a secondary story; thick rule lines combined with large point type can mean “start here”.

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “R” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

The opening of your yearbook is like a good pick-up line. It should grab their attention and make them want more. Below is a quick list of what your opening should or could have:

• Opening Copy - This should explain the theme and why you chose it for this year. It should be compelling and set the tone or voice of your copy for the WHOLE book.
• Design Elements - Design elements from the cover that you plan to use throughout the book need to appear on your opening pages.
• Photography - The pictures should reflect your theme through their content.
• Table of Contents - If you can’t do this on your endsheets, then the opening is the place to do it. (Try to avoid putting it on your title page!)

For ideas on how to design your Opening Spread, go to Yearbooks.biz and click on “Showcase.”

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “O” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

Folios should get a face lift every year:

• For the page numbers, use a font that goes with the theme
• Add a graphic element that appears on the cover, endsheets, or is unique to that particular section
• Include the section name on the left side (i.e. “Student Life,” “People,” “Academics,” etc.)
• Add the page topic on the right side (i.e. “Homecoming Dance,” “8th grade,” “World Languages,” etc.)

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “F” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

An eyeline is the horizontal line that cuts across your spread, leading the reader from the left page to the right. It’s also where your eyes land on the book when you fall asleep while looking at your yearbook until 2:00 a.m.

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “E” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…

Sure, vellum with a laser cut, foil emboss will turn a few heads, but endsheets don’t have to cost an arm and a leg to look spectacular. We have several great company-designed choices that will save you some time and money. Or, if you want to create your own, here are a few suggestions:

• Use this space for the Table of Contents as well, saving a valuable inside page for more content
• Make sure the design ties in with the theme and cover
• Consider using a spot color in varying opacity to give the illusion that there are more colors present
• Check out some of our personal favorites: http://www.yearbooks.biz/?event=Showcase.Gallery&category=2

*This entry is part of “The Yearbook Ladies’ A to Zs of Yearbook”
project. If you’d like to download the “E” card, go to the “Adviser
Resources” section of www.theyearbookladies.com

We’d love to hear from you! Share your questions, comments, and ideas below…