Whatever the magazine is, in print or as an Internet resource, its creation is impossible without a layout. The correct design contributes to a better perception of the information published in the magazine by the readers.
In order to accurately answer the question in the title, it is necessary to clarify which magazine we are talking about - print (on paper) or Internet resource, since their layouts differ significantly from each other.
Traditional magazine. Production starts with a layout
A magazine layout is a page-by-page graphic (mainly) plan of a publication number that takes into account all design elements and text execution. If the textual and illustrative content of the next issue of the magazine begins with an editorial thematic plan, then the direct process of production of each issue of the magazine begins with a layout. The layout of the magazine is an editorial document on the basis of which the layout of the publication is made.
By the beginning of prototyping, the issuing editor (or executive secretary of the editorial office), as a rule, has already received texts and photographs from the correspondents of the publication, they have undergone editorial revision and proofreading, approved by the editors of the departments, the editor-in-chief.
When creating a magazine layout, the issuing editor not only marks on which pages this or that material will be published, but also how illustrations for this publication will be placed, what sizes each image or infographic will have.
When prototyping, the size of the text and its genre are also taken into account: for example, in an interview, questions and answers are necessarily drawn up in different typefaces, so that it is easier for the reader to navigate which of the interlocutors belongs to this or that phrase or remark. The font design of headings, subheadings, headings, captions to pictures and texts is separately marked.
The use of different weights and font sizes serves a distinctive function.
Using different fonts on one page allows you to separate two publications, in particular, a small note will not be lost against the background of an analytical article if it differs in text font. As a rule, in this way, notes that are directly related to the topic of the article are embedded, although there are exceptions. Modern design standards for printed publications recommend not to get carried away with the use of a large number of fonts and use 2-3 typefaces.
The design of the magazine may include the use of rulers and frames as highlighting and dividing elements, their use, type and size are also reflected in the layout.
Each printed publication has the required elements - headers and footers, headings, imprint, and in the magazine - and the table of contents of the issue. These elements are also laid out in the layout.
Why does an online magazine need a layout?
When creating their own online magazine, in particular on livejournal.com, newcomers are perplexed when the resource offers them to choose not only a magazine theme, including a background color and often a title picture, but also a magazine layout.
The layout of the online magazine (blog) differs significantly from the document of the print edition described above and represents the division of the magazine page into the main field, where the blogger's publications will be placed, and side bars. An Internet Magazine may contain one or more side bars. As the name implies, the side bar is located on the side, and if it is alone in the magazine, then it can be either on the right or on the left. In some cases, it is possible to place a side bar at the top or bottom of the page. If a blogger thinks he needs two sidebars, they will be placed to the left and right of the magazine workspace.
The side bars contain the main elements of the journal: a cloud of tags (tags) that allow the reader of the journal to find publications on a specific topic, the archive of the journal (most often it is drawn up in the form of a calendar, and if you remember when this or that material was published approximately, you you will find it much faster using this option than if you scroll through the entire magazine). Often, the owners of online magazines place text and illustrative banners, including advertising ones, in side bars.
The layout of typefaces and font sizes in online magazines is not specified in the layout, these options are specified once when choosing a theme (template) for the blog design.
Similarly, the templates on the Joomla and WordPress engines are sharpened, which allows bloggers who do not have knowledge in the field of print production, successfully create their own Internet resources, design them and place content in them as they please.
