Non-Designer’s Type Book, The, Second Edition

5. Gray Boxes Behind Text

Just because you can make gray boxes doesn’t mean that you have to. Beginners often use gray boxes to make important parts of the text stand out because they don’t have other ideas about how to make type a focal point, or at least make it a little more important than average. Besides screaming “amateur,” type on that dotted, gray background is difficult to read. (Even worse are gray boxes with rounded corners. I know you have a tool for making rounded corner boxes. So.)

If you want to make a portion of the text stand out, try something else: a dramatic headline font, reverse bold heads, heavy rules (lines) above and below the article, extra space around the type. Keep your eyes open and see what others do—copy those ...