Although you should never let strict formulas keep you from finding the right balance of page margins to printing area, they can provide a convenient starting point. Use these guidelines to create page margins with perfect proportions, then tweak them as called for in your publication.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: As long as it takes to find the perfect page margins for your publication
Here's How:
- Don't use the same page margins on all sides.
For best appearance, size page margins progressively from smallest to largest: inside margins, top margin, outside margin, bottom margin. - Make inside margins smaller than outside margins.
When setting margins for facing pages, make the inside margin half the size of the outside margin. If the inside margins were the same then the space between pages of the spread in a book or magazine would appear excessive. Cuttin them in half visually creates more even margins on left and right. - Use a larger bottom margin.
Make the top margin half the size of the bottom margin. Page numbers and footers generally appear outside the margins which balances out the larger bottom margin. - Make inside margins smaller than the bottom margin.
The inside margins of facing pages would be one-third of the bottom margin. - Keep outside margins smaller than the bottom margin.
Make the outside margin two-thirds the size of the bottom margin. - Use the same left and right margin on single pages.
With a standalone page, the side margins would be equal, both at two-thirds of the bottom margin. - Use these formulas as guides. Tweak your margins.
After acheiving the perfect proportions, make any necessary adjustments to the page margins to fit the desired look and feel of the piece, to accommodate binding, and to fit any other page layout requirements.
Tips:
- Larger margins with these perfect proportions tend to create a more elegant aura.
- Avoid using the same margins on all sides of a publication.
