by Debbie Hodge

Welcome back to “Where Scrapbook Ideas Come From.” Earlier lessons covered the design principles of Emphasis and Repetition. Today we’re talking about another principle: Alignment.

the principle of alignment

The principle of alignment tells us to consciously place each element on the page—and, what’s more, to place each element in relation to some other element on the page. In this way you create visual connections between the elements – even if they are not next to one another.

While the landscape photo at the top of “Carry a Big Stick” is separated from the block of four photos below by a wide gutter, alignments connect it to them nonetheless. The left edge of the photo lines up with the left edges of the two photos below on the left—and the same is true for the right side. To use alignments well, look for a strong line and make it stronger with clear alignments.

The title block and the journaling block also share side edge alignments. By right justifying the journaling, the  gutter between journaling and photos is made clear—adding to the strength of this vertical line.

alignment and unity

In Lesson #3, I talked about unity – about the idea that the whole design is more important than any individual element or grouping. Alignments are a great tool for unifying and organizing the material on your page so that the viewer can take it in and understand and enjoy it.

The elements on “After Our Seder” are organized into two columns. The column to the left is created with edge alignments – alignments of the left and right edges of each paper strip, photo, and piece of ric rac.

There are also center alignments in this piece. The brad and the center of the bracketed paper above the series of photos are centered. Additionally, the journaling and smaller photo  to the right are all “center” aligned.

alignment and white space

White space refers to the areas of your page that are not filled with elements. White space not only gives the eye a resting point, it provides contrast and helps elements stand out. It’s a great tool for grouping elements—and it helps you establish a hierarchy. (Think back to Lesson #2 on Emphasis to remember why this is important).

Now here’s the important part about white space and alignments: alignments can define the white space on your page.

My first association with white space on a scrapbook page is with the generous areas left unfilled. On “A Happy Childhood” there are large areas at top and bottom left. This is a technique I often use when I have one photo—especially when it’s an older photo, hoping to add to the impact of that photo when it’s presented against a spacious background.

White space, however, doesn’t just exist around your elements—check out the next layout to see what I mean by this.

“Joshua is Twelve” is a controlled and linear layout with all photo and journaling block edges aligned. Even the left and right edges of the title and decorative bars align with the photo edges. The effect of these alignments is to create page margins and gutters–which are the white space on this page. See how powerful alignments are?

how to create alignments

Find a strong line and use it – emphasize it – make it stronger. Place each element in relation to another element. And then . . . once you have a strong line,  break out purposefully to keep things interesting.

centered alignment

Aligning elements upon their center points (either vertically or horizontally) is often discouraged in design because it can be dull. The reasons for this have to do with asymmetry being more interesting than symmetry and you can read more about that in Scrapbook Page Design: Asymmetrical Balance. Symmetrical or center-aligned designs are often used for formal design pieces like wedding invitations. Setting yourself the task to make a center-aligned design that has pizzazz is a great way to push yourself to designing in a new way.

“Stuffteds” is a page in which the elements are center aligned – except for the embellishments at top right and bottom left of the photo. While this is a center-aligned design, I really like it. Perhaps it’s the curves and whimsical elements that save it from feeling overly formal and give it a bit of energy.

edge alignment

Photos, blocks of journaling, and mats (all typically rectangular shapes) lend themselves to edge alignment. It is these kinds of alignments that create the organizing white space of margins and gutters.

Note: once you’ve purposefully incorporated alignments (and, thus, defined white space), it’s ok to purposefully break those alignments for design interest.

On “My Inheritance” the edges of each title line, each photo, each strip of paper, and the journaling block all align with other elements to organize the elements. The embellishment cluster at right then breaks out of those lines to add interest and break into the white space and keep it from being totally symmetrical (and, perhaps, uninteresting).

“Mast Way Goodbye” uses edge alignments to organize 10 busy  photos onto one 2-page spread. The block of photos to the left is from the “graduation” ceremony. The strip through the middle is from the party afterward. The two remaining photos (which are not aligned) are details of my son and the decorations.

Notice how the right and left title edges are aligned with the photo block. It’s attention to these kinds of details that will give you a strong page design.

axis alignment

You may align your elements along an axis. “Fast Forward” aligns the page elements along a vertical axis that runs between the two photos and the journaling. It’s emphasized with strips of ribbon and stitching. Notice how the journaling on the right is left justified and the journaling on the left is right justified (remember: find a line and make it stronger).

in conclusion

Arrange your elements to create lines that make sense, that organize your page, and that just LOOK GOOD! Look for opportunities to create lines. And if you’re going to make a line — make it a strong one. Don’t go half-way with it.

There are many big and small ways to incorporate alignments. If you’d like to think some more on this, take a look at these two articles to get you thinking about more approaches.

• Strengthen your scrapbook page design with alignments (Take a look at the layout called “Riding Late” and the many ways in which alignments are incorporated there).
• Justification that strengthens scrapbook page design

P.S. Look for Lesson #4 in your inbox in a few days!

 

P.P.S. Did you find this page via Twitter or a link from a friend? This lesson is the fourth lesson in  a 12-part course called “Where Scrapbooking Ideas Come From”. Click here to start receiving all of the lessons—it’s free! Of course, if it’s not for you, you can unsubscribe with just a couple of clicks. And I’ll never rent or share your information with anyone.)

Related posts:

1. Strengthen your scrapbook page design with alignments
2. Improve scrapbook page design with white space: 1 layout 3 ways
3. How to use journaling strips to rock your scrapbook page design
4. Scrapbook Page Design: Asymmetrical Balance
5. Scrapbook page journaling: justification that strengthens design