Notes from the composing desk
Set a page that reads well
Good typesetting gives a reader a comfortable route through an idea. Size matters, but so do line
length, spacing and the relationship between headings and text. Build a small, consistent type scale, then judge it
on a real page where paragraphs, captions and white space have to work together.
Put an idea into practice →
Start with the reading measure
Measure is the width of a line of type. Long lines ask the eye to travel farther before finding the next
beginning; very short lines can make ordinary prose feel broken into fragments. Set a representative paragraph
before designing the whole page. Try a few widths with the actual typeface and size you expect to use, then read
them aloud at a natural pace. Words, language and audience all matter, so treat familiar line-length recommendations
as starting points to compare rather than a universal answer.
Give the lines room
Leading is the distance from one baseline to the next. A face with a generous x-height or long ascenders may need
a different setting from another face at the same nominal point size. Increase leading gradually until paragraphs
feel open without splitting into unrelated strips. Then inspect the spaces between paragraphs and around headings.
Those larger intervals should make structure visible. A baseline grid can help neighbouring columns share a rhythm,
but it should support the text rather than force awkward gaps around every exceptional element.
Choose a scale you can use
A modular scale multiplies a base size by the same ratio at each step. The calculator shows five consecutive
sizes, including the base, so you can compare a restrained progression with a more dramatic one. You do not need to
use every step. Assign the smallest practical set of roles: body, secondary heading, main heading and perhaps a
caption. Weight, spacing and position can distinguish roles too. If a computed size feels wrong in print, adjust it
deliberately and keep the resulting choice consistent throughout the document.
Proof the difficult passages
A tidy specimen alphabet does not reveal how a page behaves with long headings, numerals, brackets or dense
punctuation. Print a proof containing those awkward cases and read it at the intended viewing distance. Check that
headings stay with the text they introduce, that the final lines of paragraphs are not distracting, and that
captions remain readable. Look at the page from across the desk as well as close up. The distant view exposes
hierarchy and uneven texture; close reading exposes spacing and wording that need attention.