can no longer compete with gravure. The rich depth and general effect of
gravure are enticing to customers. Doubtless more and more illustrated
papers will go over to it, unless, as is possible. a new, perhaps more beau
tiful and equally rational process is discovered.
TABULAR MATTER
In tabular matter. the usual thick/thin and fine double rules, and indeed all
kinds of rule combinations, must at last be got rid of. With simple rules,
from fine to twelve-point size, even the narrowest column-spacings can be
made clear and better than with the old rule-combinations.
Table-headings, as long as they are outside the table itself. must not be
centred but positioned left or right. Smaller headings inside tabular matter,
on the other hand. should usually as an exception be centred, because oth
erwise they tend to look untidy.
To achieve the greatest clarity it is again san serif that must be used in tab
ular matter for emphasis.
Old-style (non-ranging) figures must never be used. They are an unpracti
cal and out-of-date historical form. En-body figures without ascenders or
descenders are the only right ones for tabular matter- and elsewhere.
As guidelines for handwritten entries fine rules are more practical and bet
ter-looking than dotted rules. Since these entries are today usually type
written, guidelines are often unnecessary and disturbing.
Tabular matter need no longer be a rather unpleasant job to design, if one
can be free of rigid rules; on the contrary. it can become a really charming
and artistic exercise, in no way less interesting than any other area of job
bing setting.
THE NEW BOOK
In the area of book design, in the last few years a revolution has taken
place. until recently recognized by only a few, but which now begins to
influence a much wider range of action.
It means placing much greater emphasis on the appearance of the book
and a wholly contemporary use of typographic and photographic means.
Before the invention of printing, literature of that time was spread around
by the mouth of the author himself or by professional bards. The books
of the Middle Ages - like the "Mannessische Liederhandschrift" - had