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I've done many different layours, some that I like better than others.
I think yoru purpose and intent really needs to drive your layout.
Right now, my graphics are on the outside of the page be that left or
right column because that is where my users see things first. In a
previous job, we lined up the graphics on the right with the text
wrapping above and beneath because the graphics were highly related to
the text (not just your simple --see figure X). When I'm doing
one-sided sheets of paper like a spec doc, I tend to put my graphics
on the far right since, when stapled, that is the most visible portion
of the document.
I never place graphics centered on the page unless they truly cross
the entire width of the page.
However, I will give you my one caveat. I come from a strong doc
design background with more of an emphasis in book, journal, and
magazine layout than in technical publication layout. However, I've
always written and designed by the rule that our documents should be
every bit as interesting to look at as the cover story for TIME,
National Geographic, or any other publication. After all, we all know
that no one runs to the manual or help files or whatever because they
want to sit down for a good read. We might as well make it enjoyable.
Dave
On 3/7/06, Dubin, David <David -dot- Dubin -at- sage -dot- com> wrote:
> Colleagues,
> We are reviewing documentation standards and would greatly appreciate your
> input. When adding graphics to tech docs, where do you place them on the
> page (right, left, center) and why do you place them there? Also, if you use
> more than one column on the page, please let me know how many you use and in
> which column the graphic is placed.
> Additionally, if anyone has any current research on placement of graphics
> from an adult learning perspective or from a human factors engineering
> perspective that you can point me to, I would appreciate that as well.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> David B. Dubin, PHR
> Senior Curriculum Developer
> Sage Software
> 727-579-1111 x 3356
> david -dot- dubin -at- sage -dot- com
> Your business in mind
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