A yearbook is made up of paper and ink...but what makes a yearbook special is how the ink is place on the paper to remember
the special times of the year as well as the special people from the school. A yearbook page has only two elements...maybe
three...photos, text, and sometimes design elements (clip art, bars, boxes, shapes, etc.). Always remember that as you may be
struggling to determine what needs to be done to finish a page...
THEME
Most yearbooks have a THEME or ATTITUDE for the year that describes why your yearbook is special. Many themes can be
mascot related or word related. Effective themes are much like advertising slogans selling the story of your school year. This
list of themes from other yearbooks is provided not as a "shopping list" of potential themes for you to "lift," but as a source
of inspiration to assist your staff in brainstorming a unique slogan that is personal to your school and year. An example of some
themes are as follows:
* Soaring To New Heights
* Classic Moments
* Looking From The Inside Out
* Building From The Ground Up
* AND MORE...TO SEE 100's of other themes, click here.
COVER & ENDSHEETS
"You can't judge a book by its cover..." Unfortunately, that may not be the case in yearbook...many students get their first
impression from the yearbook cover and decide immediately if they love or hate it...that is why you need to spend time making
sure you choose or design a cover that best fits your culture and theme. When you talk to your yearbook company, you will have
one "BASIC" cover program to begin with included in your specs...find out what that starting point is and then decide if you can
live with that program or choose and budget for another program...we can do just about anything possible...ask to see sample or
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR GALLERY OF SAMPLE COVER DESIGNS. If you have a hardcover yearbook, you will more than
likely also have a thick paper that attaches the cover to the book known as an endsheet. Most schools leave this endsheet
blank for autographs, while others like to select special paper or print photos/text for a unique design so they can sell
autograph pages as an option. Check with your company to see what program is included in your specs for your endsheets and
determine if you would like a different program...but make sure to budget for it!
COVERAGE & LADDER
How you divide a yearbook into sections is critical for coverage. Make sure you spend time planning what is on every page and
create the roadmap known as a LADDER. A ladder is a graphic representation of what is on every page of the yearbook as well
as when you plan on submitting the pages to the publishing company. The yearbook company will provide you multiple deadlines
for production of the yearbook so you can begin to plan your year accordingly. Before any company can issue you deadlines, you
must determine when you want the yearbook to arrive to the school...before school dismisses in MAY or after you get back
from the summer so you can include GRADUATION and SPRING EVENTS, Whichever you choose, be aware that you must take
time to plan your coverage and sections accordingly.
There are SIX COMMON SECTIONS in most yearbooks. They are as follows:
* STUDENT LIFE - activities in the school (20%)
* PEOPLE - all students & adults/portraits (25%)
* SPORTS - all male/female sports (15%)
* ACADEMICS - all curricular classes & events (15%)
* ORGANIZATIONS/CLUBS - all extra-curricular clubs (15%)
* ADVERTISEMENTS SECTION - Business & Personal Ads & index (10%)
Next to each section listed above is the approximate % of pages in your yearbook that are dedicated to the yearbook section.
You can use these as guidelines in determine # of pages per section. Remember, these are guidelines only...each school is
unique and you need to adjust according to your school's needs. Once you complete that task, you must also make sure you
decide which section is first, second, etc...
PAGE DESIGNS & PRODUCTION
How you choose to create your pages as well as the design of the pages is up to you. Make sure you check with your yearbook
company to determine what program is included in your quote. Most companies offer three to four plans in creating a yearbook.
Here are the most common yearbook plans available:
* Standard Plan: The publishing company does all page assembly for the school. This plan is fast and easy and all you need is the
portraits from your photographer. Most companies provide a free kit that includes templates and clip art that can be used for
each page. The kits usually come with complete instructions, page envelopes, mounting boards, and much more. Your photos are
scanned and sized to fit each template you select at no additional charge. You submit your text as well. All montage/collage
pages are need to be camera-ready. They are scanned and included in your book. You can also paste-up other pages if you can't
find a template that will work.
* Cut & Paste Plan: If you love to do scrap-booking then this is the plan for you. Camera-ready pages are submitted for this
plan. Your own background paper and clip art can be used. The publishing company usually provides you with a kit that includes
tons of mounting board as well as page envelopes. Your responsibility is to paste down all photos, text, and artwork on your
mounting board. What you see is What You Get without the enlargement of photos or text. This plan is considered by many to
be very cumbersome, considering you have to paste down portraits as well.
* Digital or Computer Submitted Yearbooks: This yearbook is completed by using InDesign® and a scanner to scan your
photos or a digital camera. Some companies even let you send in photos to the plant so they can be enlarged or reduced for
your yearbook pages. You can also use a digital camera for photos as well, considering you have a minimum 3.0 Megapixel
camera. You usually receive a CD with templates, backgrounds, borders, clip art and fonts. You have the freedom to create
your own page layouts. With this plan you are submitting completed digital documents with photos in place and a folder with all
images collected, or photos in an envelope and pages on a diskette.
* Internet Submitted Yearbooks: This new yearbook submission process allows you to create your own yearbook using the
Internet. In this type of program, you are usually given a secure web-page with layouts for you to choose. You also send photos
or upload digital images to the website for you to place on your pages. Once you pick your layouts, you then select the proper
photos to complete your pages. Remember to use a digital camera for photos as well, considering you have a minimum 3.0
Megapixel camera.
Call 573-271-6078 or 618-978-0275 for additional info!
the special times of the year as well as the special people from the school. A yearbook page has only two elements...maybe
three...photos, text, and sometimes design elements (clip art, bars, boxes, shapes, etc.). Always remember that as you may be
struggling to determine what needs to be done to finish a page...
THEME
Most yearbooks have a THEME or ATTITUDE for the year that describes why your yearbook is special. Many themes can be
mascot related or word related. Effective themes are much like advertising slogans selling the story of your school year. This
list of themes from other yearbooks is provided not as a "shopping list" of potential themes for you to "lift," but as a source
of inspiration to assist your staff in brainstorming a unique slogan that is personal to your school and year. An example of some
themes are as follows:
* Soaring To New Heights
* Classic Moments
* Looking From The Inside Out
* Building From The Ground Up
* AND MORE...TO SEE 100's of other themes, click here.
COVER & ENDSHEETS
"You can't judge a book by its cover..." Unfortunately, that may not be the case in yearbook...many students get their first
impression from the yearbook cover and decide immediately if they love or hate it...that is why you need to spend time making
sure you choose or design a cover that best fits your culture and theme. When you talk to your yearbook company, you will have
one "BASIC" cover program to begin with included in your specs...find out what that starting point is and then decide if you can
live with that program or choose and budget for another program...we can do just about anything possible...ask to see sample or
CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR GALLERY OF SAMPLE COVER DESIGNS. If you have a hardcover yearbook, you will more than
likely also have a thick paper that attaches the cover to the book known as an endsheet. Most schools leave this endsheet
blank for autographs, while others like to select special paper or print photos/text for a unique design so they can sell
autograph pages as an option. Check with your company to see what program is included in your specs for your endsheets and
determine if you would like a different program...but make sure to budget for it!
COVERAGE & LADDER
How you divide a yearbook into sections is critical for coverage. Make sure you spend time planning what is on every page and
create the roadmap known as a LADDER. A ladder is a graphic representation of what is on every page of the yearbook as well
as when you plan on submitting the pages to the publishing company. The yearbook company will provide you multiple deadlines
for production of the yearbook so you can begin to plan your year accordingly. Before any company can issue you deadlines, you
must determine when you want the yearbook to arrive to the school...before school dismisses in MAY or after you get back
from the summer so you can include GRADUATION and SPRING EVENTS, Whichever you choose, be aware that you must take
time to plan your coverage and sections accordingly.
There are SIX COMMON SECTIONS in most yearbooks. They are as follows:
* STUDENT LIFE - activities in the school (20%)
* PEOPLE - all students & adults/portraits (25%)
* SPORTS - all male/female sports (15%)
* ACADEMICS - all curricular classes & events (15%)
* ORGANIZATIONS/CLUBS - all extra-curricular clubs (15%)
* ADVERTISEMENTS SECTION - Business & Personal Ads & index (10%)
Next to each section listed above is the approximate % of pages in your yearbook that are dedicated to the yearbook section.
You can use these as guidelines in determine # of pages per section. Remember, these are guidelines only...each school is
unique and you need to adjust according to your school's needs. Once you complete that task, you must also make sure you
decide which section is first, second, etc...
PAGE DESIGNS & PRODUCTION
How you choose to create your pages as well as the design of the pages is up to you. Make sure you check with your yearbook
company to determine what program is included in your quote. Most companies offer three to four plans in creating a yearbook.
Here are the most common yearbook plans available:
* Standard Plan: The publishing company does all page assembly for the school. This plan is fast and easy and all you need is the
portraits from your photographer. Most companies provide a free kit that includes templates and clip art that can be used for
each page. The kits usually come with complete instructions, page envelopes, mounting boards, and much more. Your photos are
scanned and sized to fit each template you select at no additional charge. You submit your text as well. All montage/collage
pages are need to be camera-ready. They are scanned and included in your book. You can also paste-up other pages if you can't
find a template that will work.
* Cut & Paste Plan: If you love to do scrap-booking then this is the plan for you. Camera-ready pages are submitted for this
plan. Your own background paper and clip art can be used. The publishing company usually provides you with a kit that includes
tons of mounting board as well as page envelopes. Your responsibility is to paste down all photos, text, and artwork on your
mounting board. What you see is What You Get without the enlargement of photos or text. This plan is considered by many to
be very cumbersome, considering you have to paste down portraits as well.
* Digital or Computer Submitted Yearbooks: This yearbook is completed by using InDesign® and a scanner to scan your
photos or a digital camera. Some companies even let you send in photos to the plant so they can be enlarged or reduced for
your yearbook pages. You can also use a digital camera for photos as well, considering you have a minimum 3.0 Megapixel
camera. You usually receive a CD with templates, backgrounds, borders, clip art and fonts. You have the freedom to create
your own page layouts. With this plan you are submitting completed digital documents with photos in place and a folder with all
images collected, or photos in an envelope and pages on a diskette.
* Internet Submitted Yearbooks: This new yearbook submission process allows you to create your own yearbook using the
Internet. In this type of program, you are usually given a secure web-page with layouts for you to choose. You also send photos
or upload digital images to the website for you to place on your pages. Once you pick your layouts, you then select the proper
photos to complete your pages. Remember to use a digital camera for photos as well, considering you have a minimum 3.0
Megapixel camera.
Call 573-271-6078 or 618-978-0275 for additional info!
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