When you work on a yearbook, there are many different words used that you may not have heard before. Suddenly, it might feel like you’re trying to learn a new language. From pica to pull quote, this handy guide will help you navigate the most used yearbook terminology with ease. Before you know it, you’ll feel like a real yerd (definition: yearbook nerd).
Bleed:When content or imagery extends past the edge of the page. Note, each page has extra space (usually 1/8-inch) that is trimmed after printing.
Byline:When you list a person’s name and give them credit as the author of a story.
Candid:An unposed or casual picture of a person or group. Unlike posed pictures where someone faces the camera and smiles, candid pictures typically capture someone doing something in the moment.
Caption:Short copy that describes a picture, often placed below it, to help the reader better understand the image.
Closing:The yearbook’s last page.
Copy:All text on a page.
Copy editing:The process of improving the copy for clarity, accuracy and style.
Cover:The outside of the yearbook. Can be hard cover or soft cover.
Dedication:A section that typically features a student photo and personal message. These are purchased by family members.
Dominant element:The focal point of the page.
DPI:Dots per inch for digital images. A higher DPI will be more detailed when printed.
Drop cap:A design element that uses a large letter that appears at the start of a block of text.
Folio:The page number in the yearbook.
Font:A type or style of text.
Gutter:Where two pages meet in the center.
Headline:A bold or larger line of text at the top of a story that summarizes or introduces what it is about.
Kerning:The space between side-by-side letters that can be adjusted if necessary.
Ladder:A basic organizational plan that lists yearbook spreads with the subject of each page.
Layout:The arrangement of the page elements.
Pica:Unit of measurement equal to 1/6 inch.
Portrait:A posed photo of a person’s head and shoulders. This is what you see in a traditional school picture.
Proof:A copy of the yearbook that is provided for final review and sign-off.
Proofreading:Reviewing copy and other page elements to catch errors and typos.
Pull quote:A small portion of the story that highlights a key point reused in larger type as a graphic page element.
Sans serif fonts:Fonts that do not feature serifs, the small decorative projections on letter strokes. Used often in smaller text for ease of reading.
Serif fonts:Fonts that feature serifs, the small decorative projections on letter strokes. Used often in headlines.
Spread:Two facing pages in a yearbook. For example, pages two and three are spreads and are both visible when the book is open.
Template:A predesigned layout provided by Lifetouch that makes it easy to organize yearbook pages.
Theme:The idea or concept that ties the entire yearbook together.
Title page:The first page of the yearbook, which often includes a picture of the school building, logo and year.
White space:The empty space on a page that prevents overcrowding. Also called negative space.
