Lesson 1Line length (measure), leading, and optimal characters per line for long-form readingSet line length and leading to support comfortable long-form reading. You will calculate optimal characters per line, adjust leading for different sizes and faces, and refine settings for dense text, notes, and multi-column layouts.
Measuring characters per lineChoosing target line length rangesSetting leading for body textFine-tuning leading for headingsHandling narrow and wide columnsTesting pages with real contentLesson 2Paragraph styling: first-line indent vs space-between, hyphenation, widow/orphan controlDefine paragraph styling that balances readability and typographic polish. You will compare first-line indents and space-between, set alignment and hyphenation, and control widows, orphans, and runts to keep pages visually even.
Indent vs space-between strategiesSetting alignment and justificationHyphenation rules and exceptionsWidow, orphan, and runt controlParagraph spacing and groupingUsing styles for global changesLesson 3Handling headings, subheadings, block quotes, lists, and pull quotes with consistent stylesDevelop consistent styles for headings, subheadings, lists, and quotations. You will define hierarchy, spacing, and alignment so structural elements remain clear, visually coherent, and easy to maintain across long documents and series.
Heading levels and naming conventionsSpacing above and below headingsStyling subheads and run-in headsBulleted and numbered list treatmentsBlock quotes and pull quote designBuilding reusable style sheetsLesson 4Running heads, page numbers, and chapter open treatments: placement, content, and typographic styleDesign running heads, page numbers, and chapter openings that guide readers. You will set placement, content rules, and typography for front matter, main text, and special pages while keeping the system consistent and unobtrusive.
Running head content conventionsPositioning and aligning foliosOdd and even page variationsSuppressing heads on special pagesDesigning chapter opening spreadsCoordinating with cover and seriesLesson 5Choosing main text and heading typefaces: serif vs sans-serif tradeoffs and licensing considerationsExplore how to select body and heading typefaces for print books. You will compare serif and sans-serif options, evaluate readability, pairing, and character sets, and address licensing, embedding rights, and file formats for production.
Serif vs sans-serif for long-form readingEvaluating readability and text colourPairing body, display, and special facesOpenType features for book typographyLicensing, embedding, and usage rightsManaging font files in the workflowLesson 6Type scale and hierarchy: establishing base font size, modular scale for h1–h4, and ratio examplesEstablish a type scale that supports clear hierarchy in a 6×9 layout. You will choose a base size, select modular ratios, map sizes to heading levels, and test examples to maintain consistency, legibility, and rhythm across the book.
Choosing a base text size for printSelecting modular scale ratiosMapping sizes to h1–h4 levelsAligning scale with line lengthAdjusting scale for special pagesDocumenting the type hierarchyLesson 7Treatment of footnotes and endnotes: inline callouts, placement, spacing, and pagination strategiesPlan footnote and endnote systems that remain readable and unobtrusive. You will style callouts, choose placement, manage spacing and rules, and address pagination, note breaks, and cross-references in complex, note-heavy books.
Footnote vs endnote use casesStyling note reference calloutsNote text size, leading, and indentsPlacement, rules, and spacing logicHandling note breaks across pagesManaging notes in multi-author worksLesson 8Margins, type area, and optical alignment for a 6×9 trim: inner/gutter, outer, head, foot, and folio placementDefine margins and type area for a 6×9 trim to create a stable, comfortable page. You will set inner and outer margins, head and foot space, folio placement, and use optical alignment to balance spreads and improve perceived symmetry.
Standard margin schemes for 6×9 booksBalancing inner and outer marginsHead, foot, and folio positioningDefining and testing the type areaOptical alignment of text blocksAdapting margins for binding methodsLesson 9Integrating images and diagrams: sizing, captions, float behavior, and image resolution for printLearn how to prepare, size, and place images and diagrams for print interiors. You will handle resolution, colour modes, captions, and float behaviour so visuals reproduce sharply and support the text without disrupting reading flow.
Print resolution and colour mode standardsSizing images for single and double columnsCaption hierarchy and typography rulesAnchoring, wrapping, and float behaviourBleeds, full-bleed spreads, and safetyPreflight checks for placed artwork
