Start with a good grid. I developed one for our University magazine that I think works really well. Some Grid settings can be found under Preferences > Grids. Other grid specs a set in your Margins and Columns dialogue.
This Grids dialogue box will allow you to set your Baseline and Document Grids. Let's start with the Document Grid...
The Document Grid creates what I like to call your page layouts "space-time". That just means the fabric (and it does look like a net) on which every element rests on and snaps to (remember to turn on Snap to Document Grid). I use a setting of 3 pts with an increment of 1. That creates a net all across my spread of 3 pt. squares. Anything I place on that page should snap to one of the points on my Document Grid.
Next, I want my body text to align from page to page. This is where the Baseline Grid comes into play. I use it to align my body text and photo captions. I set the Baseline Grid to 12pts. (Document Grid [3] x 4) and in the Paragraph Styles set the Body to Align All. Now all my text should align from page to page.
I use this for my body text and photo captions only. Other text elements don't need to snap to the Baseline Grid. But if they can, then I do and consider it a bonus.
Please not that does not include subheads (though I do have a trick for those) headlines, decks, etc. Those need to have a little more "freedom" to move around. I have three other designers laying out pages for the magazine, and they're always asking "Does this have to snap to the Grid?"... whiners.
Okay... we touched on the Grids... now the columns. I'm currently using a nine column layout. That way my text column widths can easily be set for two or three columns and give a little leeway for creativity. The columns and the gutter between them
all fall precisely on the document grid. It's a state secret... I'd have to kill you.
Finally Margins... Here's a basic rule of thumb: your margins should increase in size starting from your inside margin. Nothing drastic... just small increases (Inside Margin = X, Top Margin = X +, Outside Margin = X ++, Bottom Margin = X +++). Don't ever, ever, ever have a margin less than 1/2". Bleeds, of course, are totally cool. Oh... and did I mention, the Margins, the Columns, the Gutters, and the Baseline Grid should all fall on the Document Grid.
Here's what that will do for you... Your pages will have a foundation that will give them degree of uniformity that will make it easier for the reader to navigate. It will reduce the number of decisions you have to make. Instead of struggling to line up elements, the Grid shows you where they go.
But don't be fooled... you still need to consciously use it. The designers I work with are talented but still somewhat clueless and I'll find photos that aren't snapping, etc. I'll have to give them another lesson next issue.
So here's the hierarchy... Any element on the page should snap to a Margin or Column Guide. If it doesn't then it should snap to a Baseline Grid. If it doesn't then it MUST
at least snap to the Document Grid. If it doesn't... I know where to find your family.
Hope that helps.
