Hey there, amateur designers! So you’re working on a print ad. It’s one of your first, and you want to get it just right. Before you slip that photo quality inkjet paper into your printer, let’s talk about the magic number.

Maybe this is obvious, but sometimes when you’re working hard, it helps to revisit the basics. In this case, the basic we’re going to focus on is The Rule Of Thirds.

That’s right, our creative and industrious friends: three is the magic number. When you’re designing a print ad,

• one third of your ad should be graphic elements, such as drawings or photographs
• one third of your ad should be the copy, including your logo
• one third of your ad should be white space

(We would add a bonus rule, that white space ought to be made of gorgeous photo quality inkjet paper!)

Now, don’t bristle! We’re not trying to stifle you. There’s plenty of room for variation in this rule. You’re not necessarily going to want to divide your ad into precise thirds. Just keep the magic number in your head as you play around with the design that will grace that photo quality inkjet paper when all is said and done. Think of it as giving your design good bone structure, it’s bound to look sharper than if you hadn’t.