Graphic Designer's Essential Reference

Creating Visual Dialogue between Type and Imagery

Getting type to interact with imagery poses a serious problem that must always be overcome, no matter how simple the layout. The first step in doing so is to recognize this basic fact: Just like images, type is made up of lights and darks, linear motion and volume, contours, open and closed space, mass, and texture. Consider type not only the equal of image with respect to layout—but an element that completes the image. If type can be removed from a layout and the remaining image composition still appears strong, type and image aren’t talking to each other. There are as many strategies for getting type and image to meld with each other as there are ways of mixing vegetables and herbs in soup; ...