So taking in the notes I wrote down for my first exercise, I tried something different. Instead of using the picture for the background, I did a box over the page in a dark blue (I used this on my other layout) to keep the same theme going on through out the pages. Then I added a lighter blue gradient to the bottom of the page to add some contrast. Feeling the gradient background was too plain, I added a texture to it, keeping it pretty opaque so the texture wouldn't be too over powering. I choose a repeating mountain pattern to keep with the theme of mountains. I loved the font I used for the first layout, but instead of using Futura and white text like my first layout, i opted for black text so the body text could still be readable against the text boxes. I didn't like the bare edges of the image, so I gave it rounded edges and a stroke to make it interesting. The body text was switched to Palatino, since i figured a serif text might be easier to read if I make it black.
Hilayna – This layout is completely readable, and your choice of fonts gives the impression that you are speaking to a young audience because it is a “handwritten” font. Choosing a serif font for the body copy makes sense too. I notice that there are large amounts of negative space that seem to be “left over” on the page. Although there is a subtle textural image in the background, it doesn’t offer the reader enough information to “fill” these empty holes. So… what can you do? Here are some suggestions:
ReplyDelete1. Consider enlarging your title and placing it along the bottom, running up the side, or along the top, to give your photo more options in the right side of your composition.
2. Enlarge your photo, and crop it vertically – allowing it to bleed off the top, or the bottom (where the title is NOT sitting of course).
3. Add quite a bit more leading (line spacing) to your body copy, so it becomes more readable and takes up more space.
Try those, and other options, to make your elements “float” less on the background. For instance, you have made a good decision to place the text in those cool fading rounded-edged frames… they unify with each other inside those really interesting shapes. How can the photo relate, and unify, with them and fill its space more appropriately? This is a good beginning!