Layout and composition.
排版与构图。
In a way, they're the foundation of design.
某方面来说，它们是设计的基础。
They give your work structure and make it easier to navigate—from the margins on the sides to the content in between.
它们让你的作品有结构，比较容易浏览——从旁边的边界到中间的内容。
Of course, it's not just about working with text.
当然，不仅只是处理文本内容。
Composition matters in other mediums too, like graphic design, web design, and much more.
构图在其他媒介中也很重要，例如平面设计、网页设计和其它更多方面。
Without a well-composed layout, your work would basically fall apart.
没有好的构图和排版，你的作品基本上就会支离破碎。
The key to mastering layout and composition is to think like a designer.
掌握排版与构图的关键就是像设计师一样思考。
Luckily, it's easier than it sounds.
幸运的是，这比听起来更容易做到。
There are five basic principles that can help you transform your work and sharpen your eye for design.
以下有五个基本原则，能够帮助你改变作品，让你对设计有更敏锐的眼光。
Let's start at the top and work our way down.
我们先从最上面的开始讲，并往下一个一个介绍。
Proximity is all about using visual space to show relationships in your content.
“邻近性”就是运用视觉空间传达出内容之间的关联性。
In practice, it's pretty simple—all you have to do is make sure related items are grouped together.
实际操作起来其实挺简单的——你要做的就是一定要把有相关的项目放在一起。
For example, blocks of text or elements in a graphic.
例如，文本框或元素图案。
Groups that are not related to each other should be separated to visually emphasize their lack of a relationship.
彼此不相关的群组要分开，以视觉的方式强调彼此缺乏关联性。
All in all, this makes your work easier to understand at a glance—whether it's purely text or something more visual.
总而言之，这会让你的作品更能够一眼就清楚明了－－不管是纯文本或是更可视化的东西。
White space is an important part of every composition.
“留白”也是构图中很重要的一块。
Now, this doesn't mean literal white space—it just means negative space, like the spaces between your content, between lines, and even the outer margins.
这不是在指字面上的白色的地方——而是指“负空间”，如内容之间的留白、行列之间、或甚至外部边界的空白。
There's no one way to use white space correctly, but it's good to understand its purpose.
使用留白的方式没有唯一正解，但要了解它的目的。
White space helps you define and separate different sections.
留白能帮你定义和区分不同区块。
It gives your content room to breathe.
它给你的作品呼吸的空间。
If your work ever starts to feel cluttered or uncomfortable, a little white space might be just what the doctor ordered.
如果你的作品让你开始觉得太混乱或不舒服，留一点空白也许就是解答。
Alignment is something you deal with all the time, even if you don't realize it.
“对齐”是你无时无刻都会遇到的事情，即使你不自觉。
Whenever you type an email or create a document, the text is aligned automatically.
你写电子邮件或建立文件的时候，文字已经自动对齐了。
When aligning objects by yourself—for instance, images or separate text boxes—getting it right can be tricky.
当你要自己手动对齐对象的时候——例如，图片或独立的文本框——好好对齐可能会有点难。
The most important thing is to be consistent.
最重要的事情是要维持一致性。
Let's take a look at what that means.
我们来看一下是什么意思。
It might help to imagine your content arranged inside of a grid.
这可能会有点帮助，想象你的内容是编排在网格线里的。
Notice how there's an invisible line centering each image to the text?
有注意到有一条隐形的线条让图案与文本置中对齐吗？
Each grouping is also evenly spaced and aligned with equal-sized margins.
每一个对象组合也彼此对齐，中间的留白均等，到边界的留白也是相等的。
It's that attention to detail that makes the composition easier to navigate.
留意细节才能让构图容易浏览。
Without consistent alignment, your work could start to feel disorganized.
对齐不一致的话，你的作品就会让人觉得杂乱无章。
Contrast simply means that one item is different from another.
“对比”，就是指一个对象和另一个不同。
In layout and composition, contrast can help you do many things—for example, catch the reader's eye, create emphasis, or call attention to something important.
在排版和构图上，对比能帮助你做到很多事情——例如：吸引读者的目光、创造强调性、或让人注意到重点。
There are lots of strategies for creating contrast.
有很多策略能够创造对比。
You can use color, adjust the size, shape or visual weight of an object, or use contrasting styles of text.
你可以用颜色，重设大小、形状、对象的视觉比重，或者文字使用对比的风格。
Contrast is also closely tied to hierarchy—a visual technique that can help the viewer navigate your work.
与对比紧密相关的是“视觉层级”——一种视觉技巧能让观看的人更容易浏览你的作品。
In other words, it shows them where to begin and where to go next using different levels of emphasis.
换句话说，不同层级的强调性能够告诉他们要从哪里开始看，再看哪个地方。
Establishing hierarchy is simple: Just decide which elements you want the reader to notice first, then make them stand out.
建立层级很简单：只要决定你想先让读者注意到哪些元素，接着凸显它们。
High-level or important items are usually larger, bolder, or more eye-catching in some way.
高层级或重要的对象通常都比较大、比较粗，或以某种方式比较显眼。
Repetition is a reminder that every project should have a consistent look and feel.
“重复性”是用来提醒每个作品都必须要有一致性的外观和感觉。
That means finding ways to reinforce your design by repeating or echoing certain elements.
指的是找到方式增强设计，透过重复或呼应特定元素。
For instance, if you have a specific color palette, look for ways to carry it through.
例如，如果你有特定的色调配置，要找到方法让这种配置贯穿整个作品。
If you've chosen a special header style, use it every time.
如果你挑了特别的标题样式，记得每次都要用。
It's not just for aesthetic reasons—being consistent can also make your work easier to read.
不仅仅只是美观上——前后一致也能让你的作品更好阅读。
When the viewer knows what to expect, they can relax and focus on the content.
当观众知道会看到怎么样的配置，他们就能放松，好好专注在内容上。
In many ways, layout and composition are the unsung heroes of design.
以很多方面来说，排版和构图是设计中的无名英雄。
It's easy to overlook their role, but they're part of everything you do.
很容易忽略它们的角色，但它们在你的作品中无所不在。
A nudge here...some extra white space there...and voila!
这里微调一下...那里多留白一点...你看！
With a little attention to detail, you can create beautiful, professional-looking compositions.
多注意细节，你就能创造出漂亮又专业的构图了。
