Captions are a phrase, sentence, or short paragraph describing the contents of an illustration such as photos or charts. Photo captions are usually placed directly above, below, or to the side of the pictures they describe. After headlines and graphics, photo captions are the third most looked at portion of most printed pages. Use captions to pull in the reader.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: As long as it takes to add and format captions for photos
Here's How:
- Set figure numbers apart from rest of caption.
If using photo captions with figure numbers, use bold, italics, or color to set the number apart from the text of the captions. - Adjust caption alignment based on its placement with photo.
For captions placed to the side of a graphic, use a flush alignment rather than ragged alignment between the text and the graphic. - Use contrast between captions and surrounding text.
Use a different typeface and style to create contrast and differentiate photo captions from surrounding body text. - Separate captions from surrounding text.
Keep photo captions and captions on charts and other images separate from body text with space or rule lines. - Use size to set captions apart from other text.
Make the text used for captions visually smaller than body text. - Use the same photo caption style throughout a document.
Be consistent in your use of photo captions, styling, and numbering methods for captions(if used). - Group captions.
When grouping photos or illustrations, group the photo captions as well and provide a familiar pattern such as left to right or clockwise from the top. - Keep photo captions short.
Edit carefully and avoid long captions under wide paragraphs. If very long captions with very wide photographs is necessary - consider using 2 columns, with a sufficiently wide gutter, for the caption text. - Provide contrast between caption and photo.
When placing photo captions directly on top of images (overprinting or reversed), insure that there is enough contrast between the text of the captions and the background photo.
Tips:
- Captions draw in readers.
Captions give you an opportunity not only to explain the illustration but to summarize the story or article they accompany. Well-written photo captions give the editor/publisher one more opportunity to pull the reader into the publication. The steps outlined above help the caption do this more effectively.
