Re: Headers/footers - opinions wanted

[Scott Wahl <swahl -at- BRIDGEWATERSYS -dot- COM>]

A few page layout guidelines to keep in mind:

Make sure there is sufficient white space both between the header and the top
of the page and between the header and the text body. You don't want the header
to interfere with the reader getting at the content.  If you use a separator
line, you can keep the separation clear without as much white space.

Minimize the number of font types used -- fonts should enhance the reader's
understanding, not interfere.  I recommend using the same font type for the
header/footer as you use for titles.  A sans-serif font is best.

The page should be balanced.  So if the header has text on both sides of the
page, so should the footer.  Or you could have header text on the left side
only of the left page, right side only of the right page; the footer text
should match this.  I wouldn't put a lot of text in the header and nothing in
the footer.

Hope this helps.

Scott

Damien Braniff wrote:

> There was a discussion recently re the content of headers/footers which I
> found quite useful ammunition to standardise what should be displayed and
> where.  What I'd like to know is does anyone know any guidelines re
> separating the header/footer from the main text - e.g. line providing
> definite break, "large" amount of white space, use of different
> fonts/styles etc to differentiate from the body text.  I lean towards using
> a separator line and splitting the information between the header and
> footer to give a balanced look.  Another writer prefers everything in the
> header with no separator and I wondered what others thought.
>
> Damien Braniff
> Technical Author
> PAC International
>