Margin settings

What are margins and why do we need them?

The margins in print media are the spaces left unfilled by text or images on each page. They are placed around the text: at the top, at the bottom, to the left and to the right. The margins have an important role in the design and functionality of print publications.

To begin with, the margins provide aesthetic balance on a page, making it visually good and not overloaded. Without enough spacing around the text, a page may be too difficult to read.

Secondly, the margins serve a practical purpose. They provide space for the reader's notes and place for linking pages in a book. Without adequate margins, the text can be hidden in the very fold of the book, making it difficult to read.

The margins may also contain additional design elements such as page numbers, footers, or small illustrations that enhance the overall perception and organization of the publication.

All-in-all, the margins are key design elements of printed publications, which provide a comfortable reading experience, as well as adding aesthetic value to the whole sight of the document.

How to make a multi-column layout?

To create a multi-column design, you need to take the size of the page into account. This layout is suitable for medium and large formats, where the width is at least 180 mm, as it is important to ensure readability. The optimum line length for comfortable reading is between 60 and 80 characters, and it is difficult to achieve this standard on smaller formats. That is the reason why multi-column layout is only recommended for larger formats.

To enable multi-column layout, move to the “Fields” setting page, which follows the manuscript layout step. Here, activate the "Columns" option. Once both of these steps are done, you will see the two-column layout on your screen.

How to change the width of the margins

Adjusting the width of the margins in the publication is managed on the “Margins” page, which provides two basic ways for modifications:

1. Automatic adjustment with “Air in the Layout”: This tool automatically modifies the width of margins from the base of golden ratio principles. Enlargement of the setting leads to a more "airy" and spacious layout design.

2. Manual setting: You can set the width of each field in the layout by yourself. To manage it, simply type the desired values in the corresponding fields of the settings. After entering the data, the layout will be immediately updated to reflect the made changes.

Both of these methods allow you to set the margins according to your preferences and publication needs, whether you're looking for a balance between text and free space or modifying the dimensions for a particular design.

What margin width should I choose?

Choosing the margin width for a printed publication depends on several factors, including the method of jointing. Here are some recommendations:

1. Binding method:
   • Glue binding (adhesive binding or GSB): Requires sufficient internal (spine) margins (20 mm or more) for the text not to move into the spine of the book. The inner margins are usually made wider than the outer margins.
   • Stapling (stitching): Since the pages are easily unfolded, smaller margins can be used, but the inner margin should be sufficient to keep the staples from covering the text.
   • Thread stapling (7BC): This method is usually used for thicker books and requires wider inner margins to allow for easy reading.
2. Book format:
   • For smaller formats (such as pocket-sized books), margins are usually made smaller to give maximum space for the text.
   • For larger formats (such as textbooks or art books), wider margins, which add aesthetics and make the text easier to read, can be used.
3. Target audience and features of the publication:
   • Textbooks and scholarly books often have wider margins for making notes.
   • Fiction books tend to have more standard margins.
4. Aesthetics and design:
   • Wider margins can give an edition a more premium look.
   • Too narrow margins can create the perception of the cluttered page.

According to the general rule, inner margins should be wider than outer ones to ensure comfortable reading and avoid "losing" text in the spine of the book. It is also important to consider that some pages may require additional space for page numbers, footers, or references.

To sum up, the ideal margin width is a balance between functionality and aesthetics that corresponds to the specific features of your publication.

What is the wide margin?

Wide margins provide additional space for small illustrations and captions in a book layout. This makes the layout dynamic and improves its readability, as the main text occupies the center of the page, while secondary elements, such as images, are placed amid wide margins.

In order to place images and their captions on the wide margins correctly, it is necessary to use the adaptive image placement method, which can be activated on the markup page, in the design tab. If you select a fixed placement, you will not be able to use wide margins for images and captions.