Before&After

®
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One-
Line
Design
Make expressive designs easily and
quickly with just a line.
Continued 

Continued  One-line design 0621

Before&After ®
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One-line design
It can look classy, it can look festive, and it’s always inexpensive. Here
are nine easy ways to make good designs with just a line.

I
There you are, shopping again at
Banana Republic, when beside
the cash register this credit-card
application catches your eye. How
did it do it?—it’s basically just a AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE - NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED
By using this card, the holder agrees to all terms and/or agreement
under which it was issued or as may be amended from time to time.
THE BANANA REPUBLIC CARD
To protect your account, do not write your Personal Identification

black page. Its strength is in its

THE BANANA REPUBLIC CARD Number (PIN) on this card. This card belongs to the issuing institution
and must be surrendered upon demand.

simplicity—one powerful color,

one line of text, one familiar shape.
Simple, low key, effective
That’s all it takes; anything more— A credit-card-size rectangle is all it
photos, graphics, borders and takes to convey exactly what’s inside
(if you miss it, the word card backs
so on—would weaken it. What’s it up). Black card color extends to fill
nice for the designer is that this the cover powerfully.

technique is so easy. Have a look.

 2 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 3 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA

Gladstone Parks Department

P.O. Box 16819, 5510 N. Holmes, Gladstone, MO 64188, 816-123-4567
Diana’s
HAIRST YLES

1 Start by tracing Many images can be traced with the pen 2 Use a dingbat Not handy with the pen tool?
tool; all you need is a clear outline, which you’ll find in Dingbat fonts are full of interesting images; just
stand-alone objects (above) or as part of larger images. convert to outlines, and adjust the line weight.

Emphasize leaf or name Value difference creates

(Above) On a middle-value depth (Right) On a dark
background like the green, field, the lightest object will
both white and black type always come forward even
show equally well; the when it’s smaller in size,
leaf, with reduced opacity, MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA (lower right).
recedes. (Right) Translucent
name recedes; white leaf
comes forward.

 3 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 4 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

WR
3 Use letterforms as art Letters can do more than just make 4 Trace part of an image When working with a more
words—at large sizes, they can be used as artwork. Find a detailed image, find its most descriptive edge; here,
beautiful typeface, set it BIG, and convert to outlines. it’s the skyline. The line technique is a great way to
get value from blurry or otherwise unusable photos.

Eliminate conflict Draw a single line

To keep overlapping lines (Above) A single line sends
from clashing (right, top), WINE & ROSES a clear message; trac-
reduce the opacity of the ing the other lines (right)
less detailed one, in this adds complexity and turns
case the outline (bottom). design into a mere effect.

WINE & ROSES

 4 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 5 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI

GATEWAY ARCH

❄
You’re invited to a

Christmas
RiverFRONT Party

SIGHTSEEING | FINE RESTAURANTS | LIVELY NIGHT LIFE | FAMILY ACTIVITIES

5 Crop an image It’s not necessary to show a whole image to 6 Repeat an object Get more out of your image by
convey what it is, especially if it’s an iconic shape like Gate- repeating it several times. Create difference and
way Arch in St. Louis. Examine your image, determine its depth by rotating, changing size, or applying a
most descriptive line, and crop out the rest. unique color to each.

Crop for clarity Because Create distance (A) Same-size and value objects have
the one-line technique elim- no depth. (B) Shrink one, and it appers to be further away.
inates details such as color (C) Reduce its opacity, and it recedes even further.
and texture, concentrate
on contours. In this simple A B C
example (right), it’s the
curve that tells the reader
this is an arch.

 5 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 6 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

7 Embellish a line Every line, whether fat or thin, curved 8 Draw only the shadow side Another way to convey
or jagged, communicates a feeling. Here, exaggerate the dimension is to outline only an object’s shadow, which
smooth line to convey hotness and excitement. creates the illusion of light.

Exaggerate the line Lighting angle is key

Both silhouettes (right) say The key in determining the ideal
pepper. However, to con- shadow is when it becomes very
vey the feeling of what it’s descriptive. Note, right, how
like to eat one of these, a the light source from 45° above
more animated, jagged line Mild & calm Hot & excited describes the H better than
is an appropriate choice. straight from the side.

 6 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 7 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

Article resources

Typefaces Colors
1 Centaur MT | 12 pt 13 C30 M15 Y100 K60
2 (a–b) Vectora Roman | a) 9 pt
b) 8.5 pt 14 C30 M15 Y100 K40

3 Baileywick Happy Grams | 82 pt

15 C30 M15 Y100 K5
4 Avenir Medium | 6.5 pt
16 C0 M0 Y0 K100
3 5 Bickham Script MM | 30 pt
MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA
6 Adobe Jenson Light | 202 pt 17 C0 M0 Y0 K22
7 (a–b) Adobe Jenson Semi Bold
Diana’s
HAIRST YLES
a) 16 pt, b) 9.5 pt
8 Adobe Wood Type Ornaments 1 | 22 pt
18 C15 M80 Y0 K5

19 C30 M20 Y50 K0

Gladstone Parks Department
P.O. Box 16819, 5510 N. Holmes, Gladstone, MO 64188, 816-123-4567

9 Coronet Bold | 13 pt
20 C25 M90 Y95 K25
13 14 15 1 2a 2b 11 16 17 4 5 10 Broadway D | 11 pt
21 C0 M35 Y100 K7

Images
11 Photos.com
WINE & ROSES 12 iStockphoto.com

SAN LUIS OBISPO’S MOST ROMANTIC LOCATION

18 19 7a 8 7b 6 20 21 9 10 12

 7 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After ® One-line design 8 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

Article resources

Typefaces Colors
1 Futura Medium | 10.5 pt 13 C70 M38 Y5 K12
2 Aldous Vertical | 48/18 pt
1 SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI
4 14 C3 M3 Y40 K0
2 GATEWAY ARCH 5
3 Verdana | 8.5 pt

3 RiverFRONT You’re invited to a

Christmas
6 4 Vectora Bold | 14 pt 15 C0 M0 Y0 K60
Party
5 Atlas | 26 pt
13 SIGHTSEEING | FINE RESTAURANTS | LIVELY NIGHT LIFE | FAMILY ACTIVITIES
16 16 C0 M100 Y80 K15
6 ITC Zapf Dingbats Medium (Set in
14 17
various sizes and tints) 17 C65 M40 Y0 K0
15 18 7 (a–b) Salsa | a) 28 pt, b) 16 pt
18 C50 M0 Y90 K20
8 (a–b) ITC Franklin Gothic Heavy
12a 12b 12c 12d a) 9 pt, b) 11 pt 19 C0 M100 Y100 K0
9 ITC Franklin Gothic Medium | 5.5/10 pt
20 C0 M65 Y100 K0
10 Texas Hero | 148 pt
22 11 (a–c) Baskerville | a) 16 pt 21 C0 M30 Y90 K0
23 b) 17.5/9 pt, c) 17.5 pt
22 C25 M80 Y95 K45
24
23 C0 M20 Y30 K60
HOT SAUCE 25 Images
12e
RECIPES

Milk please! A comprehensive guide to over 200 hot sauce reci-

pes around the world, with detailed profiles and heat levels, plus
12f Kitchen THE SIMPLE LIVING SERIES 26 12 (a–f) iStockphoto.com | a b c d 24 C40 M35 Y65 K25
e f
The Complete Illustrated reference to the ingredients,
funny stories about the makers. equipment, terms, and techniques used in the kitchen
By Angela Payne
BY MARIBELA GONZALES

25 C0 M20 Y32 K58

26 C1 M2 Y3 K0
19 20 21 7a 8a 8b 9 7b 10 11a 11b 11c

 8 of 9  One-line design 0621

Before&After
® One-line design 9 of 9 BAmagazine.com i U X

Subscribe to Before & After Before & After magazine

Before & After has been sharing its practical approach
Did you learn from this article? Subscribe, and to graphic design since 1990. Because our modern world
become a more capable, confident designer has made designers of us all (ready or not), Before &
After is dedicated to making graphic design understand-
for pennies per article. To learn more, go to
able, useful and even fun for everyone.
http://www.bamagazine.com/Subscribe
John McWade Publisher and creative director
Gaye McWade Associate publisher
E-mail this article Vincent Pascual Staff designer
To pass along a free copy of this article to Dexter Mark Abellera Staff designer

others, click here. Design advisor Gwen Amos

Before & After magazine

Join our e-list 323 Lincoln Street, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone 916-784-3880
To be notified by e-mail of new articles as
Fax 916-784-3995
they become available, go to E-mail [email protected]
http://www.bamagazine.com/email www http://www.bamagazine.com

Copyright ©2005 Before & After magazine, ISSN

1049-0035. All rights reserved
You may pass this article around, but you may not alter
it, and you may not charge for it. You may quote brief
sections for review. If you do this, please credit Before
& After magazine, and let us know. To feature free
Before & After articles on your Web site, please contact
us. For permission to include all or part of this article in
another work, please contact us.

 9 of 9 | Printing formats  One-line design 0621

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 


One-
Line
Design
Make expressive designs easily and
quickly with just a line.
I
There you are, shopping again at
Banana Republic, when beside
the cash register this credit-card
application catches your eye. How
did it do it?—it’s basically just a AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE - NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED
By using this card, the holder agrees to all terms and/or agreement
under which it was issued or as may be amended from time to time.
THE BANANA REPUBLIC CARD
To protect your account, do not write your Personal Identification
black page. Its strength is in its
THE BANANA REPUBLIC CARD Number (PIN) on this card. This card belongs to the issuing institution
and must be surrendered upon demand.
simplicity—one powerful color,
one line of text, one familiar shape.
Simple, low key, effective
That’s all it takes; anything more— A credit-card-size rectangle is all it
photos, graphics, borders and takes to convey exactly what’s inside
(if you miss it, the word card backs
so on—would weaken it. What’s it up). Black card color extends to fill
nice for the designer is that this the cover powerfully.
technique is so easy. Have a look.
0621 One-line design Before&After | www.bamagazine.com One-line design 0621
1 of 5
 


MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA

Gladstone Parks Department
P.O. Box 16819, 5510 N. Holmes, Gladstone, MO 64188, 816-123-4567

Diana’s
HAIRST YLES
1 Start by tracing Many images can be traced with the pen 2 Use a dingbat Not handy with the pen tool?
tool; all you need is a clear outline, which you’ll find in Dingbat fonts are full of interesting images; just
stand-alone objects (above) or as part of larger images. convert to outlines, and adjust the line weight.
Emphasize leaf or name Value difference creates
(Above) On a middle-value depth (Right) On a dark
background like the green, field, the lightest object will
both white and black type always come forward even
show equally well; the when it’s smaller in size,
leaf, with reduced opacity, MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA (lower right).
recedes. (Right) Translucent
name recedes; white leaf
comes forward.
WR
3 Use letterforms as art Letters can do more than just make 4 Trace part of an image When working with a more
words—at large sizes, they can be used as artwork. Find a detailed image, find its most descriptive edge; here,
beautiful typeface, set it BIG, and convert to outlines. it’s the skyline. The line technique is a great way to
get value from blurry or otherwise unusable photos.
Eliminate conflict Draw a single line
To keep overlapping lines (Above) A single line sends
from clashing (right, top), WINE & ROSES a clear message; trac-
reduce the opacity of the ing the other lines (right)
less detailed one, in this adds complexity and turns
case the outline (bottom). design into a mere effect.
WINE & ROSES
0621 One-line design Before&After | www.bamagazine.com One-line design 0621
2 of 5
 


SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI

GATEWAY ARCH
❄
You’re invited to a
Christmas
RiverFRONT Party
SIGHTSEEING | FINE RESTAURANTS | LIVELY NIGHT LIFE | FAMILY ACTIVITIES
5 Crop an image It’s not necessary to show a whole image to 6 Repeat an object Get more out of your image by
convey what it is, especially if it’s an iconic shape like Gate- repeating it several times. Create difference and
way Arch in St. Louis. Examine your image, determine its depth by rotating, changing size, or applying a
most descriptive line, and crop out the rest. unique color to each.
Crop for clarity Because Create distance (A) Same-size and value objects have
the one-line technique elim- no depth. (B) Shrink one, and it appers to be further away.
inates details such as color (C) Reduce its opacity, and it recedes even further.
and texture, concentrate
on contours. In this simple A B C
example (right), it’s the
curve that tells the reader
this is an arch.
7 Embellish a line Every line, whether fat or thin, curved 8 Draw only the shadow side Another way to convey
or jagged, communicates a feeling. Here, exaggerate the dimension is to outline only an object’s shadow, which
smooth line to convey hotness and excitement. creates the illusion of light.
Exaggerate the line Lighting angle is key
Both silhouettes (right) say The key in determining the ideal
pepper. However, to con- shadow is when it becomes very
vey the feeling of what it’s descriptive. Note, right, how
like to eat one of these, a the light source from 45° above
more animated, jagged line Mild & calm Hot & excited describes the H better than
is an appropriate choice. straight from the side.
0621 One-line design Before&After | www.bamagazine.com One-line design 0621
3 of 5
 

Article resources


Typefaces Colors
1 Centaur MT | 12 pt 13 C30 M15 Y100 K60
2 (a–b) Vectora Roman | a) 9 pt
b) 8.5 pt 14 C30 M15 Y100 K40
3 Baileywick Happy Grams | 82 pt
15 C30 M15 Y100 K5
4 Avenir Medium | 6.5 pt
16 C0 M0 Y0 K100
3 5 Bickham Script MM | 30 pt
MAPLE WOODS NATURAL AREA
6 Adobe Jenson Light | 202 pt 17 C0 M0 Y0 K22
7 (a–b) Adobe Jenson Semi Bold
Diana’s HAIRST YLES

a) 16 pt, b) 9.5 pt
8 Adobe Wood Type Ornaments 1 | 22 pt

18 C15 M80 Y0 K5
19 C30 M20 Y50 K0
Gladstone Parks Department
P.O. Box 16819, 5510 N. Holmes, Gladstone, MO 64188, 816-123-4567
9 Coronet Bold | 13 pt
20 C25 M90 Y95 K25
13 14 15 1 2a 2b 11 16 17 4 5 10 Broadway D | 11 pt
21 C0 M35 Y100 K7
Images
11 Photos.com
WINE & ROSES 12 iStockphoto.com
SAN LUIS OBISPO’S MOST ROMANTIC LOCATION
18 19 7a 8 7b 6 20 21 9 10 12
Article resources
Typefaces Colors
1 Futura Medium | 10.5 pt 13 C70 M38 Y5 K12
2 Aldous Vertical | 48/18 pt
1 SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI
4 14 C3 M3 Y40 K0
2 GATEWAY ARCH 5
3 Verdana | 8.5 pt
3 RiverFRONT You’re invited to a
Christmas
6 4 Vectora Bold | 14 pt 15 C0 M0 Y0 K60
Party
5 Atlas | 26 pt
13 SIGHTSEEING | FINE RESTAURANTS | LIVELY NIGHT LIFE | FAMILY ACTIVITIES
16 16 C0 M100 Y80 K15
6 ITC Zapf Dingbats Medium (Set in
14 17
various sizes and tints) 17 C65 M40 Y0 K0
15 18 7 (a–b) Salsa | a) 28 pt, b) 16 pt
18 C50 M0 Y90 K20
8 (a–b) ITC Franklin Gothic Heavy
12a 12b 12c 12d a) 9 pt, b) 11 pt 19 C0 M100 Y100 K0
9 ITC Franklin Gothic Medium | 5.5/10 pt
20 C0 M65 Y100 K0
10 Texas Hero | 148 pt
22 11 (a–c) Baskerville | a) 16 pt 21 C0 M30 Y90 K0
23 b) 17.5/9 pt, c) 17.5 pt
22 C25 M80 Y95 K45
24
23 C0 M20 Y30 K60
HOT SAUCE 25 Images
12e
RECIPES
Milk please! A comprehensive guide to over 200 hot sauce reci-
pes around the world, with detailed profiles and heat levels, plus

12f Kitchen THE SIMPLE LIVING SERIES 26 12 (a–f) iStockphoto.com | a b c d 24 C40 M35 Y65 K25
e f
The Complete Illustrated reference to the ingredients,
funny stories about the makers. equipment, terms, and techniques used in the kitchen
By Angela Payne
BY MARIBELA GONZALES
25 C0 M20 Y32 K58
26 C1 M2 Y3 K0
19 20 21 7a 8a 8b 9 7b 10 11a 11b 11c
0621 One-line design Before&After | www.bamagazine.com One-line design 0621
4 of 5
 

Subscribe to Before & After Before & After magazine

Before & After has been sharing its practical approach
Did you learn from this article? Subscribe, and to graphic design since 1990. Because our modern world
become a more capable, confident designer has made designers of us all (ready or not), Before &
After is dedicated to making graphic design understand-
for pennies per article. To learn more, go to
able, useful and even fun for everyone.
http://www.bamagazine.com/Subscribe
John McWade Publisher and creative director
Gaye McWade Associate publisher
E-mail this article Vincent Pascual Staff designer
To pass along a free copy of this article to Dexter Mark Abellera Staff designer
others, click here. Design advisor Gwen Amos
Before & After magazine
Join our e-list 323 Lincoln Street, Roseville, CA 95678
Telephone 916-784-3880
To be notified by e-mail of new articles as
Fax 916-784-3995
they become available, go to E-mail [email protected]
http://www.bamagazine.com/email www http://www.bamagazine.com
Copyright ©2005 Before & After magazine, ISSN
1049-0035. All rights reserved
You may pass this article around, but you may not alter
it, and you may not charge for it. You may quote brief
sections for review. If you do this, please credit Before
& After magazine, and let us know. To feature free
Before & After articles on your Web site, please contact
us. For permission to include all or part of this article in
another work, please contact us.
0621 One-line design Before&After | www.bamagazine.com One-line design 0621
5 of 5