Ask Brooks

Why put text on folio images?

On the topic of folios, I think it is a great idea and I think it is gaining popularity. I have to say though that I find the artist name and other lettering on each image rather off putting. In a way I am surprised of your design choice, given your usual ethos of the humbleness and modesty of the artist. It reminds me of cheapo Ikea or office "motivation" photo posters or even banner advertising. In a way it is advertising for the artist really, which for me introduces a branding or commercial aspect and takes away from the image itself. I believe that the artist name and info belongs on the back. If one were to frame the prints, surely the text would/should be cropped out.

— Dirk

Thanks for the feedback. I understand your comments, but there are several reasons we include text on the folio images:

1. Should an image ever be separated from the folio for any reason, it would lose its identity and origin.
2. We think of folios as something between a book and original artwork; text in this context seems okay.
3. With so many photographers producing their original artwork using the same technology (pigment prints) that we use, we feel it is important to distinguish our prints as being something different from their originals. Since these are not signed by the photographers, this text seems an acceptable way for them to be identified.
4. The common text on each image ties the various images in the folio together as a whole.

As you say, should someone choose to mat the prints for framing, they can choose to include or exclude the text components — and we do the layouts that way on purpose.

As to text on the back, this is possible and we do hand-write titles on the back of the Chiarenza folio, for example, but generally prefer the text on the front as part of the design. Besides, typeset text is more readable than my lousy handwriting! Besides, if the text were on the back, matting with the text visible is no longer an option.

I do appreciate your thoughts about this. I fact, in some of my personal work, I do folio images (originals, in this case) without the text, so you can see I do agree with you in some cases.

Photoshop for creating folio layouts

I want to try and print text page/s and make a folio. I cannot afford to buy InDesign nor do I wish to learn a new program for a single task such as this. Is it possible to explain how best to set it up and to do it in Photoshop with it's text tool. Perhaps a Photoshop template?

— Frank

Actually, I cover both Photoshop and InDesign as tools to create folio layouts in our Folios Visual Workshop on disc.

Although Photoshop can be used, its text tools are primitive compared to InDesign. When I have a choice, I always use InDesign — but that's not a choice unless you have it! So, with this in mind, Photoshop is an alternative and can do the job, just not as easily. As far as that goes, you could also use Microsoft Word, Works, Publisher, QuarkXpress, PaintShop Pro, or almost any other program that allows you to add text and image to a layout. Heck, in theory you could use Powerpoint!

And, don't overlook the non-computer methods. In LensWork and LensWork Extended #59 we published a portfolio of work by Carol Golemboski in which she used hand-written and drawn graphics on acetate sheets to add graphic elements to her photographs. She placed the acetate on top of the gelatin silver paper and then projected her negative through the acetate onto the paper with her enlarger. It worked well. This method could easily be adapted to add text, graphics, or even simple crop marks to a wet darkroom print, either gelatin silver or platinum/palladium, for example.

Just because you don't have InDesign, that shouldn't be an impediment to your creativity. I use InDesign because it's a great tool and I own it. It's certainly not the only game in town.

Text on the page with an image

In doing one of your "standard" sized Folios (Say, with the print done as an 8" X 10" if I've figured your dimensions correctly from the DVD workshop) what would be a typical print size to allow for text along the bottom? I like the idea of titling the photos, just can't quite figure out a good layout for the prints themselves!

— Rob White

Well, my real answer is . . . whatever looks right. But let me try to be more helpful, if I can.

I think of text as part of the artwork, not just some additional information tacked on for description. For me, therefore, the layout of the words and letters is as important as the fussing and finessing I do in the image.

There are several aspects that I consider:

Size

Relative to the page, relative to the image size

Font face

Serif, non-serif, font family

Font style

Italics, bold, light, etc.
Small caps, all caps, lower case, title case
Old style, proportional, ligatures

Font metrics

Optical alignment, spacing, scrunching

Placement

Right or left aligned, centered, justified

Color

Black, gray, color, stroked

Treatment

Plain, stroked, drop shadow, textured

Non-text elements

Lines, glyphs

All of these need conscious decisions in how we design the text elements in the layout. All these decisions influence where on the page the text will go. The best advice I can give is to pay attention to typesetting and get a feel for it. Spend a little time looking specifically at the typesetting in places where type is handled with care as part of the layout in artwork, for example in book jackets and title pages, on posters, greeting cards, DVD movie boxes, broadsides, and, if you can find them, examples of work done by calligraphers whose work is all about text and layout. Study as much as you can and learn how type is used by others whose experience and expertise can be a guide. We do the same thing with our image making; why not with typesetting, too?

In my folios, I want the image front and center, the text diminished and in a support role. I'll often use a gray color, a relatively small font size, and most commonly center the text so it's weight on the page doesn't throw off the balance of the print. If you were to measure it, you'd often find the title of the prints or the title of the folio about a quarter inch from the bottom, but that varies depending on the image, the folio, the layout, and the text treatment. Here is an example.

But, in the Made of Steel folios where there were larger text components, it required a completely different layout.

Just as you take time to play around with an image trying different printing variations, fussing with tones and contrast, cropping and toning, and all the things we do until a photograph is right and done, take time to play with the text layouts, too. Find what feels right. Don't get lazy and just slop it on the page. Don't get rushed and give up too soon. Care and sensitivity is what artmaking is all about.