FPO Issue # 6

 

Features

Crossing Over

Go toward the light—of your computer monitor, that is. [FPO] reviews 10 digital edition companies to compare their strengths. After you check out our story, click here to find links to each company’s version of our MAGZ A-to-Z issue and see how they run.

Ten Type A’s

If you are as crazy about typography as we are, you know that there’s more to layouts than headlines and art. When the two things merge is when things get interesting. We showcase 10 different ways to think about making headlines, and asked the designers to describe their work mixing text and image into layouts whose sum is greater than their parts.

Tell Readers Where to Go

How you structure your magazine is almost more important than what you put in it. A strong issue map is a readers’ guide to what they can expect each issue, and adding clear navigation using design elements that expose the issue map structure makes your magazine memorable.

The Theory of (Type) Relativity

Letters are beautiful, but letters working together is what makes typography beautiful. According to author Ina Saltz, it’s not just the shapes, but the way they fit together that makes type-intensive designs both more legible and more interesting.  

 

Departments

Re:Design Picture Perfect

Photo guidelines and shot lists aren’t hurting creativity; they help your highly-paid vendor deliver the goods. Read more.

Pasteboard

Text Font Makes Headlines, Amazon Gracelessness, Poor SELF Image, Recycled: Bad Onomatopoeia Magazines, Snark Attack: InStyle, The New Acting AD, [FPO]’s End-of-Print Countdown Clock, Quiz #5: “Slang-Froid,” Gone But Not Forgotten: Wigwag, Magazine — The Movie, NET Scape Explorer, Magazine Bestiary

Our position only Typography Changes Everything

There’s still a problem with type on the web. Mostly, it sucks.

Cover charge DAMN That Label

Hate that white box you have to put on your cover? We do. Here are some ideas for making it less irksome.

Questions For Gail Anderson

The poster girl for, well, posters talks about her love of typography, Rolling Stone and Broadway.

Re:Write Packaged Good

Building a big feature from the ground up as a collection of pieces held together by a common theme can be an exciting — and liberating — approach.

Layout Rhythm King

Pace is everything when you read a feature. It’s not always just about the big opening.

writer's bloc Deconstructing a Quote

Check the source, and you might be surprised that an adage you thought you knew has a secret story.

TYPE SET The History of Typography

A timeline shows how we went from wood to metal to film to bits.

Green Piece To Leave a Lighter Footprint, Take More Steps

Choosing a “green” printer and recycled paper are the easy parts. Now take measures to work smarter.

image consultant Raw Materials

The Camera Raw Converter might be the most powerful tool in Photoshop.

stock market 10 Places to See Before You Buy

These stock illustration sites have lots to offer, and can be a resource for commissioning new art too.

font fount Oldies But Goodies

Fonts that once were hot, but then were not, deserve a fresh look.

the magazine medic People Still Need People

The first — and still best — of the celebrity rags is going strong, but needs to return to its roots.

Launch pad Size Does Matter!

New magazines with super-sized dimensions have impact that can’t be squeezed onto a screen.

by george A Close Shave

Designer George Lois shares his favorite Esquire covers. This issue: If you liked seeing the Jessica Simpson shaving homage on the cover of Esquire, you should see the original.

Artist SHowcase

Featured illustrators and photographers. Go to showcase.

EndBug Typography Rebus

When words fail, try pictures.