One-Column Grids

A simple one column format requires very little planning and allows you to place text quickly. When well done, the one column format has a straight forward look which is particularly suitable for business plans, reports, simple manuals and many types of communication within an organisation.
With the use of typefaces, rules and simple graphic devices, singles column format can be effective and smart looking.
Long lines are more difficult to read than shorter ones because the eye has to travel further from the end of the line to the start of the next. To overcome this problem in a single column grid, use generous margins and space between lines and a relatively large typeface (10 to 13 points). Also use space between paragraphs to lighten the page.

Two-Column Grids

Two column grids provide a more polished look than one column grids. They are used for a variety of publications including newsletters, brochures, menus and reports.
The greatest danger of a two column grid is that you will try to fit too much text onto a page and create a page which is dense and difficult to read. As a general rule, use wide margins to create a readable, appealing document.
Two column format allows more variety in the placement of headlines and graphics.

Three-Column Grids

The three column grid is the most common format in publishing, being widely used in magazines, newspapers, catalogues and annual reports for business.

It is popular because it is so flexible, allowing you to place headlines, graphics, boxed text and other elements across any one, two or even three columns. This allows you to break the material into small pieces using graphic devices to indicate the importance of each.
The short length of line makes reading easier. The type size should be relatively small to be in proportion to the width of the column and the face must be easily read. Hyphanisation is usually required. Full justification of text will probably lead to rivers of white space and consequently should be used with caution.
The use of three columns accommodates both small and large pictures.

Four or more-Column Grids

Four column grids allow greater flexibility in the placement of graphics and text. Although there are four columns in the grid, it is not always necessary to use four distinct columns for all the text. It may be best to combine two columns for an article or a graphic.
Newspapers commonly use five or more columns in their grid.

Headers and footers

The running title at the top of a page is called a header. Footers appear at the bottom of each page. They are particularly important when a document is several pages long.
Readers use headers to get an indication of where they are in a publication. Books often use headers to indicate the chapter and section as well as the page number.
Header and footers may contain rules (the DTP name for lines), text and graphics to become a design feature of the publication.

Jumplines and Continuation heads

Jumplines indicate where an article is to be continued. It is important that when an article is broken over a page or several pages, that the reader be given clear clues as to how to link the text together.
Continuation heads immediately identify the text as being a continuation of the original story and indicate where it has been continued from. They frequently use the same words as the original heading but at a smaller size.