Using Alignment on Your Scrapbook Pages

Alignment: 1. Arrangement or position in a straight line or in parallel lines. 2. The process of adjusting parts so that they are in proper relative position. 3. The condition of having parts so adjusted.

When I think of alignment, graphic design for magazines and newspapers is what comes to mind first, but alignment can be just as important in the design of your scrapbook pages. Alignment basically means creating continuity throughout the layout by visually connecting the elements on your page.

If you've ever looked at your pages and thought they didn't flow quite right, the alignment most likely had something to do with it. By consciously aligning the elements on your page, you'll end up with a neater, more easy to view, layout.

Your main concern when creating a layout is always to keep the focus on your photo(s). Besides that, you want to be able to look at a layout and have your eyes flow from each row of elements to the next without having to search for a place to rest. The bottom line is: You want to be able to look at a layout with ease. When your eyes see a cluttered layout, your eyes don't know where to start.

The way to use alignment effectively is to align your elements along an invisible margin, or border. There are five primary ways to align:

1. Right - Elements are lined up along the right margin.
   
   She and Me by Jen Sebast
   
   
2. Left - Elements are lined up along the left margin.
   
   Snow by Gab423
   
   
3. Center - Elements are centered on your page. This method looks the most formal and is the easiest to do.
   
   Fountain Fabulous by Andrea Steed
   
   
4. Justified - Elements are spaced out so both the right and left margins are aligned. The term is most often applied to text, but can be used for elements in page design as well.
   
   Bella Girl by Chersmoon
   
   
5. Diagonal - Aligning your elements along a diagonal line is a good way to create interest while still maintaining a connected alignment between elements.
   
   My Own Art by Hobbit

Try creating a layout like you normally would. Then put it aside and using the same supplies, do the layout again, but this time, try aligning everything along a margin, whether it be center, right, left, both right and left, or diagonal. Then compare the two layouts and see if you notice a difference.

In the layout above, Maureen Spell re-arranged her layout to use a vertical right-centered margin. The patterned paper, photograph, title and journal all meet at the center focal point. In addition, the finished layout also uses a diagonal and horizontal center line margin.

When your elements are lined up along a margin, your eyes are able to follow the elements from left to right and top to bottom. If things are lined up correctly, the eyes won't need to search for the beginning of the next line of elements, whether it be your journaling, photos or embellishments.