Beginning designers often have problems figuring out how to account for everything on a dummy and how to ensure that the resulting page looks like they envisioned. The following tips are designed to help designers dummy pages correctly.
1. Generally, dummy 1 pica between each element on the page. You need this space to separate the elements. There are four exceptions; allow no space between them on the dummy. They are:
- Between the headline (or deck) and the text (or byline).
- Between the headline and the deck.
- Between the photo and the credit line.
- Between the credit line and the caption.
These exceptions are made either because the space is always less than 1 pica or it is inconsistent.
2. Allow 1 pica for a photo credit and 1 pica for each line of the caption. For example, if you have a photo with a 3-line caption, you would allow 4 picas for the caption and credit.
3. For conversational decks, add 1 pica to the number of lines that you need. If you need a 4-line conversational deck, allow 5 picas. The extra pica accounts for the bold-faced read-in.
4. To determine how many picas that you must allow for a headline, divide the total number of points for the entire headline by 12 and round up the answer. There are 12 points in a pica.
Write head orders in this style: number of columns, point size, and number of lines. If a headline is two columns of 42 point type in three lines, write: 2-42-3. Without this style, the paginator wouldn't know whether you wanted three lines of 42-point across two columns or two lines of 42-point type across three columns.
5. Write the slugs on stories and photos on the dummy and circle them. If you write legibly, it will be easy for the paginator to know which story or photo you want. Write down the dimensions of photos in picas so that the paginator will know their size. Do the same for info boxes and graphics.
6. Write down the sizes of bastard measures for stories so that the paginator knows what size of type you want. If you don't put down a size, the paginator will assume that you want the standard size, which is 12 picas and 2 points for a six-column grid and 14 picas and 9 points for a 5-column grid.
Draw a line from column to column to show how the story flows on the page. Write the length of the story in picas at the end. If the story jumps, write the page number, such as "Jump to Page 8," at the end of the story. If not, write a "#" sign.
7. Indicate all rules, including boxes, with red lines so that they will stand out on the page. If you don't do this, it is easy for the paginator to miss them. When you can't find a red pen, use another bright color. Draw an arrow to the rules and write down the point size. Most rules are 1 point.
8. If you want a screen on the text, write down SCREEN in red, capital letters in the box so it stands out on the page. If you want a certain percentage, include it. Don't make the screen too dark because the reader will be unable to read the text.
9. If you want color, write the color in red in capital letters, i.e. "BLUE," and draw a line to the spot where you want it.
10. Make sure that the dummy is legible and complete. If the person paginating
or pasting up the page can't read your writing, you might not like the results.
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