"The grid is a help system, but it is not a guarantee, but simply has a number of possible uses, and each designer can find a solution that suits his or her individual style. But one must learn to use the grid. It is an art that requires practice."

— Joseph Müller-Brockmann

In fact, the very use of a grid relates to one of the oldest and most basic principles of design: alignment. Our brain wants to simplify everything and make it more understandable. That's why we try to bring order to things that seem chaotic.

Naturally, the faster we organize everything correctly, the faster our brain will be able to identify the model and move on. The grids are so orderly that they require almost no interpretation on our part. .

Consider the two page layouts shown in the figure below:

Although both of these images are just a few rectangles, the set at the top seems fundamentally better than the one at the bottom. We can instantly recognize the pattern, accept it and move on. The image below causes visual discomfort because it has no clear pattern, order, or purpose and looks like a random collection of shapes.

It should be noted that disorganization can also be beautiful . In nature, for example, there are no clear lines. Meshes look cold and hard, but remember that they are very effective and effective method Don't let your imagination get bogged down in structures.

Take a look at some of the most popular websites with top-notch designs. Most likely they used a mesh. Grids help stabilize the structure of a web page and provide a logical template for a designer to create a site.

Using a grid doesn't mean your design will have a boring design. A good designer should know and be able to apply the basic rules of using a grid, but that doesn't mean he can't break the rules.

Simply put, a grid is the division of a layout by vertical and/or horizontal guidelines including margins, space, and a number of columns in order to provide a framework for organizing content.

Grids are traditionally used in printing, but are also often used in web design. The mesh is simply a tool that helps in the design.

When starting to learn new skills in a particular area, you should first follow the recommendations. Learning the basics ensures that you can apply the principles effectively. That is, first - theory, and then - practice.

It's worth noting that there are two ways to create a template grid:

Method #1: Create your own grid

There are many in various ways create your own grid, but in the end, you have the right to choose the option that suits you best.

You can divide a blank document mathematically, creating an even or odd number of columns to work with. Your network can be complex or simple, you can use the rules of thirds or the golden ratio, whichever you prefer.

Perhaps the following articles will help you with this:

• How You Make A Grid (book on English language in .pdf format)

Here are some examples of networks created in Photoshop using guides ( View>New Guide):

Plugins for creating grids in Photoshop

5. Grid System Generator - generator of such popular grids as 960.gs, Golden Grid, 1Kb Grid, Simple Grid / set the necessary parameters and click “GENERATE”.

Grids for fluid/responsive websites

Responsive web design is very popular today. Its main principle is the use of a rubber mesh. You can read more about them, but I would like to expand this collection a little and add a few more resources.

1. - adaptive mesh generator

2. Fluid grid calculator - a service that allows you to create a rubber mesh. Enter the parameters and get the finished code.

Modular grid - e a pattern, pattern, size or proportion that is repeated multiple times. Remember Escher's pictures. Lizards, fish, birds in some works - this is the module. Every Internet user sees modules in the form of backgrounds.

The first option for using modules in design is the same as on the Internet, that is, a background image. In a variety of forms, both independently and in various combinations. And the same illustrations by Escher.

The second option, dimensional, is very close to the third, proportional. Basically these are modular grids for various typographic types of printed products.

The third option is more difficult to perceive, but it is precisely this that underlies all design, architecture and other things created by nature and man. Man has always shaped the environment, intuitively guided by a sense of proportion, that is, relationships.

Phidias (the creator of the Acropolis) and Ictinus (Parthenon) also demonstrated knowledge of the law of the golden ratio. The essence of this law is that the smaller segment is related to the larger one, as the larger one is to the entire length. I don’t remember if this law is studied at school, but in art schools, art and architectural institutes it’s like “Our Father...” In one number this value is expressed as 1.618..... algebraically it looks like a: b=b:( a+b). The point is that such a ratio is beneficial to the eye due to the mental and physical characteristics of the structure of the eye, the operating frequencies of the brain and many, many... (Figure 4.2.)

The second active element in building some visually favorable relationships is the square. By constructing from it it is easy to obtain ratios 1:2, 2:3, 3:4.

Figure 4.2.

Figure 4.3.

For the web, modular page construction can be organized using tables. As a module, you can take the screen aspect ratio (at 800x600 this is 4:3) (Figure 4.3.). The standard size of a sheet of paper A4 is also a module in drawing and typography

The overwhelming number of typographic grids are based on the format of a sheet of paper, taken as the basis for the publication. The grid design depends on the content and intent of the project, as well as the individual style of a particular artist. And if the design is done using a computer, then the process becomes quite fast, especially at the implementation stage. Most graphic (mainly publishing) programs have built-in options for creating a modular grid, and almost all of them have a fairly large set of modular grid templates under the quite common names “Booklet”, “Calendar”, etc.

In Figure 4.4. presented modular grid of the first strip. It differs slightly from the general modular grid in the upper block. For a clearer perception of the logo, it had to be highlighted with very significant pauses. But there are no problems with reading and highlighting it.

Figure 4.4.

Figure 4.5. Modular grid of remaining stripes

As you can see, in addition to a clearly defined upper block, the strip has a clearly defined “basement” - this is what newspapermen call the lower part of the strip. It helps to divide the information on the page into thematic zones. The band modulation circuit is visible in the two color diagrams.

The modular grid is not always so uniform and symmetrical. It can be completely abstract, with arbitrary placement of elements, but in any case its task is to ensure continuity in the presentation of material.

Modules are used by architects, furniture designers, and car developers; their module is tied to the proportions and dimensions of the human body.

Figure 4.6.

In web design, the modular grid is used much more often than it might seem at first glance. If you are using

to form elements on the page - you are already using a modular grid, especially if you repeat this grid not on one page, but on several. Sometimes the grid can be hidden, sometimes it can be explicit (when you use a different color as the background of the cell, different from the main background) (Figure 4.6.)

It should be added that the essence of the grid is the same, except that the web grid may contain dynamic (changeable) cell parameters. The page can be different in height, which depends on the amount of text and pictures on it, and automatically expand (or not expand) depending on the monitor resolution used.

Screen sizes

WITH

Canvas width

You should avoid hard-coded screen sizes, but if you do set hard-coded screen sizes, you need to keep in mind that setting hard parameters is determined by the canvas size.

Screen resolution
Canvas sizes

The screen size can be determined using simple programs (see laboratory practice).

Let's look at an example of a modular grid and specifying dimensions, organized using a table

In HTML, you can mark the entire content of a table with a tag . Then the table header is indicated by the tag and the conclusion with the tag .All three tags are closing tags and have attributes. Table header cells use the tag .

However, the easiest way to not depend on the size of the canvas is to use relative sizes, that is, set the sizes in %.

An extremely useful article about the rules for creating a magazine layout! I highly recommend reading it.

Before we talk about the modular grid, let's understand what a module is.

Module is a multiple repeating image, size or proportion. – this is the structure (framework, template) of the arrangement of graphic elements on pages. The basis of a modular grid is the “module”, in other words, the main grid step, which is visually determined by the width and height of the cell (modular unit). Cells are built using vertical columns and horizontal lines.

The vast majority of typographic grids are based on the format of a sheet of paper, taken as the basis for the publication. As you understand, the columns and basic page grid are created using automatic program commands. The grid can be very diverse, depending on the purpose of the publication and the designer’s ideas.

The grid is created for the entire spread, not for each page separately. This is done so that the entire magazine spread is perceived as a single whole, and does not break up into right and left parts, and the entire publication does not look like a binder of dissimilar pages. The reversal grid can consist of 2, 3, 4, etc. equal and unequal width columns.

Columns of equal width are created in the document creation window, or in the “Margins and Columns” panel. If we need to specify 3 columns, then we enter the number 3 into the corresponding field, etc.

But what if, according to our plan, not all columns should have the same width? For example, what if text and images are placed in 2 wide columns, and explanatory information is placed in a side narrow column?

In this case, our modular grid will be built on the basis miscellaneous number of automatic program columns. For example, if we set 8 automatic columns for a page, then the 2 wide columns we have planned (for text and images) will take up 3 automatic columns, and the narrow side column will be built on the basis of 2 automatic columns.

In addition to distribution by columns, the modular grid also uses basic horizontal rulers. Lines of text and borders of graphic elements are attached to them for visual ordering and alignment.

Headings can fit in one column or extend across several columns. It is not uncommon for the title to be the only element for the entire page. It all depends on the creative idea and personal preferences of the designer.

In the same way, graphic images (photos or illustrations) can occupy one or more columns, or they can fill a news spread. A fairly common technique is when a photograph occupies one part of the spread entirely and extends slightly onto the second part in order to visually unite both parts.

-

A modular grid is not necessarily built from perpendicular lines. Sometimes the designer decides to tilt the grid or even give it an original shape. If you want to go beyond the usual, go ahead!
Just try to ensure that in the pursuit of originality your work does not turn into Sisyphean labor. Imagine what it would be like to lay out 40-50 pages with an inclined or curly grid...

-

Therefore, before you get original, ask yourself whether this is really necessary and why? If the entire magazine is built on an inclined, inverted or curly grid, then, most likely, such originality will surprise the reader no further than during the first 5 pages, and then it will begin to irritate.

Why? Yes, because the reader, first of all, wants to calmly read and assimilate interesting information, and not be distracted by any excesses of the designer’s genius.

But if original markup appears in only one specific section of the magazine, it will not only be interesting, but also appropriate, since it will give the section a stylish and recognizable look.

Everything that surrounds us has its own proportions. Even as a child, the cartoon “38 Parrots” taught us that everything can be divided into parts equal to each other (the length of the boa constrictor consisted of 38 parrots). We also all know that a person’s height is equal to seven of his heads, a centimeter consists of ten millimeters, a meter consists of one hundred centimeters, and so on. Thus, a cartoon parrot, a human head, a millimeter and a centimeter are modules.

From all this we can understand that a module is a conventional unit, a step in the rhythm of the grid. And the grid itself is a system of proportions.

How will this modular grid help us? Firstly, it will speed up the work, because we will not have to spend a lot of time trying to arrange all the elements harmoniously. Secondly, with the help of the grid we can understand which point we need to use and what size each block should be. In general, a modular grid is a framework that greatly facilitates the construction of a website.

Let's look at what meshes are.

1. The simplest type is a block grid. That is, she makes rough markings, dividing the area into blocks.

Block grid

3. The modular grid has not only vertical division, but also horizontal division. Thus, what is obtained at the intersections of lines is the module.

4. There is also a hierarchical grid, the blocks in which are placed intuitively and do not follow any patterns.

So, how to create a modular grid.

1. First, we need to understand what function our site will have to perform, we identify its structure and composition of pages. Then we determine which pages will be the most important, and work will begin with them. For them, we will create a list of functionality and sort it by priority.

We must describe each block of functionality and detail it to the smallest detail. The result should be a list in which the blocks and their elements are listed by level. Thus, we now have puzzles poured out of the box, and all we have to do is assemble them into a complete picture.

3. We start constructing the mesh by determining the dimensions work area. Next we need to make the font grid. To do this, select the line height, which should be the same for the entire layout. In elements that have a font size different from the font size of the main text, the line space must be a multiple of our line height.

Thus, we get the basis of our future grid. The entire text will rest on this foundation.

4. Now we need to decide how wide our module will be. Here we can start from the width of any permanent element. If you have the task of placing some identical elements across the width of the page, then everything becomes even easier, because you already know its dimensions.

For convenience, we need to determine what the distance between the modules will be. It must be equal to at least one line height from the previous paragraph.

There is one caveat - you need to choose the right module sizes, because if they are too large, the flexibility of the mesh will disappear, and if they are small, the mesh will simply be lost.

5. Horizontal division is quite simple to do. Its height must be a multiple of the height of our line. And how many lines you insert into one division depends on your sketch.

Not long ago, while working on another lesson for the course “Graphic Design. Basics” (scheduled for release in early January), I realized that the topic of using and building modular grids is rarely covered.

There is quite a lot of information about what a modular grid is and what it is needed for, but very little about how to build it and what rules to follow. Therefore, I decided that today’s post will have a practical focus and try to cover this topic as clearly as possible.

So, a modular grid is a layout for your work, a way to systematize and align elements. It is the backbone of the compositional solution and serves as a means of organizing not only components work, but also free space.

The grid can both help us solve problems and be part of the solution. The most striking example would be windows interface phone:

For those who need a more detailed theoretical part of the question, there is the opportunity to use the search or subscribe to the course and receive a corresponding letter, where this is described in sufficient detail, and we proceed directly to practice.

First we must decide why we need a modular grid. Are we making a website, or designing a magazine, or a book cover, or something else? Depending on the type of activity, the main structural elements should be identified. Often the module size is determined by one of these elements, for example a logo, menu position on the site, etc. In layout minimum size determined by the size that is readable in a particular situation.

For clarity, I will give an example of a modular grid of a printed periodical. If we are laying out a magazine, then the structural elements can be a title, subtitle, text, and illustrations. Usually in magazines there are different types articles where the role of the text part may change. In such cases, to make the grid more flexible, I use 5-7 modules (horizontally):

Combining modules can be done in almost any format convenient for you:

In fact, the smaller the mesh module, the more flexible it will be without losing proportionality. But many find it inconvenient to work with grids if the size of their module tends to the size of the distance between the modules. Such a grid dazzles the eyes and is easy to get confused in, especially for a beginner:

There can be a lot of options for constructing a modular grid; here you are limited only by the wishes of the customer and your imagination. Do not forget that modular grids do not have to be vertical; they can also be built diagonally, at a certain angle of inclination, etc.

In the case of websites, the optimal number of columns is considered to be 12, 16 and 24, which is due to the peculiarities of website layout and the use of framework capabilities. I consider the minimum height of a module for the web to be 20px, which is due to the optimal font size (12-14pt) and its readability.

Now it's time to talk about the technical side of the issue.

Creating a modular grid in

• The first and easiest way is to enable the grid itself graphic editor(Ctrl+’) and, guided by it, set the guides. It will take a long time and with a high probability of errors.
• Install special plugins for Photoshop ( GuideGuide , Modular Grid Pattern , GridMaker 2).
• Download a ready-made template from one of the free grid generators, such as 960.gs, Golden Grid, 1Kb Grid, Simple Grid. Set the desired parameters and click “GENERATE”.

In fact, there are quite a large number of services for creating grids, including for “fluid” sites. They can be found very easily using the search, so I see no point in listing them all in the article. Such services are excellent helpers for beginners.

Creating a modular grid in

Unlike Photoshop, InDesign has its own modular grid creation tools. On the menu Layout you need to select an item Create Guides and enter the parameters you need in the dialog box:

This tool has quite flexible settings, so creating the desired structure will not be difficult. Creating a mesh is best done using Master Page, so as not to repeat the procedure for each page.

Creating a modular grid in

• The first method (similar to Photoshop) is to turn on the grid of the graphics editor itself and, guided by it, set the guides. It is also possible to make any shape a guide, which will help in organizing an inclined grid.
• Download ready-made templates grids Where - the search will tell you. You can find a lot of them on the Internet.

I hope the topic of modular grids has become closer and clearer to you. Be sure to practice building them. I understand perfectly well that this is a very tedious activity, but it is worth it. Building grids develops your sense of proportion and allows you to better see any alignment inaccuracies in the future.

The world of free programs and useful tips
2024 whatsappss.ru

title
menu	module1		Module 2	module3	module4
	conclusion