The elements of a grid

- In my course, Foundations of Layout and Composition…we covered the anatomy of a grid,…but it never hurts to recap the information.…There are multiple types of grids.…Column based, modular, complex,…symmetrical, and asymmetrical.…But they all share some common elements.…Margins, columns, gutters, hanglines, and markers.…When I design a grid, I work with points and picas…rather than inches.…These units of measurement…have been used in typsetting for centuries.…

A pica is close to 1/6 of an inch.…It is made up of 12 points.…A point is equal to one seventy second of an inch.…This is the terminology we use…when we talk about a type size like 12 point Helvetica.…This isn't required.…It's a personal preference of mine.…I like this unit of measurement…because it relates to the typography.…The margin separates the content…from the edge of the page.…

It can be generous, or tight,…depending on your layout concept.…I like to use simple measurements such as 4 picas.…Columns guide the content vertically.…You can create one column, two columns,…