Victorian Gazette SMH
Digital technologies have allowed for freedom, constant
change and formatting and visual empowerment in printed text. The above examples of the ‘Victorian Gazette’ (Canada, 1858) and the ‘Sydney Morning
Herald’ (Australia, 2012) illustrate the evolving nature of visual hierarchies and
grids in contrast to the qualities and potential constraints inherent in
letterpress.
The most apparent differences between these two typical
newspapers is typefaces, colour and formatting.
Typefaces are limited in terms of traditional letterpress, because each typeface had to have an entire set of letter blocks (serif), which were both expensive and labour intensive to manufacture. Nowadays however, type is created on the computer, with a myriad of choices and combinations to best achieve the effect required. Whilst the traditional serif is maintained throughout the body of text for increased legibility, readability and visibility, designers are now using a range of fonts for headings and highlights to capture the audience’s attention, and break the text into more manageable blocks.
Colour is also considered, giving rise to important
headlines, photographs and advertisements, thus drawing the eye to key elements
on the page before the reader delves into the articles.
Formatting of text and layout has also evolved. Once restricted
by carefully setting the type into columns, designers are now easily able to
place and move text repeatedly until they are satisfied with the final result.
Additionally, illustrations and photographs are now an essential media tool,
with text easily wrapped around, and on top of visual media.
Victorian Gazette: http://hughdoherty.tripod.com/victoria.htm
SMH: http://eljeiffel.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/super-sonic-slug.html
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