PAGE PLANS SHOWING VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS OF TEXT & DECORATION
In proportion to the solidity or heaviness of the letters, too, as a general principle, stronger effects of black and white may be ventured on, while if the type is light and elegant, finer and more open-like work would be the most harmonious treatment. With the use of handmade paper, again, upon which a printed book always looks best, openness of line is a necessary condition in design work to be reproduced as surface printing blocks with the type, since the quality of the paper requires considerable pressure to bring up bright impressions, and under such pressure (with the grain and rough surface of the paper, which gives the richness to the lines and blocks of type or woodcut) fine and broken lines would print up too strong, and not look well. Pen or brush drawing, therefore, in firm and unbroken lines is the most adapted to the conditions in this case because they work and look the best, and lead to a distinct character and style.
Nothing looks worse, to my mind, than heavy toned and realistically treated wash drawings used with a thin and light type, such as we constantly see in newspapers and magazines.
The facility of the photographic processes for reproducing drawings of all kinds (as well as the decline of printing as an art before that, and the decline of good facsimile engraving), have no doubt tended to destroy the sense of style and harmony in combining text and illustration, since the two have come to be considered so entirely apart; but of late years there have been many indications of a return to sounder taste, which is sure to influence the printer's and illustrator's art more and more widely.
FROM "THE GLITTERING PLAIN," KELMSCOTT PRESS. DESIGNED BY WILLIAM MORRIS AND WALTER CRANE.
Chapter II. Evil tidings come to hand at Cleveland
NOT long had he worked ere he heard the sound of horse-hoofs once more, and he looked not up, but said to himself, "It is but the lads bringing back the teams from the acres, and riding fast and driving hard for joy of heart and in wantonness of youth" But the sound grew nearer and he looked up and saw over the turf wall of the garth the
