IT’S ELEMENTARY
YEARBOOK VOCABULARY
If you’ve never been involved in yearbook, you’ll quickly learn that it has it’s own “language.” Here are some words that will be helpful to know.
BLEED
Photo or other content (graphics, clip art, lines, etc.) that extends past the page’s edge.
BLEED LINE
The bold pink line on the outside of the page area. Bleed photos need to extend to the outside edge of this line.
CANDID
An unposed photograph, often taken without the subject’s knowledge. Candid photos usually catch someone in the act of doing something.
CAPTION
Relatively short copy (text) used to describe a photo. The caption should clearly identify the subject of the picture, without detailing the obvious, and should be placed as close to it’s corresponding photo as possible.
CLOSING
The last page of the yearbook. If your book has a theme, this is the place to wrap it up.
COPY
Refers to all text on the page. It may be a traditional story or less formal text such as quotes, surveys, top ten lists, etc.
COVER
The outside of the yearbook which protects the printed pages.
DEDICATION OR PARENT AD
An ad purchased by a family member to recognize a student. The ad typically includes a photo and a personal message from the family member.
COVERAGE
Refers to the topics featured in the yearbook and how they are covered.
FOLIO
The page number. If desired, the topic of the page can be placed near the page number.
GUTTER
The center of the spread where the two pages meet. Text and faces in a photo should not cross over the gutter as they will likely disappear when the pages are bound together.
KIT
A complete package of yearbook supplies and information sent by Herff Jones to help you create and sell your book.
LADDER
A page-by-page listing of the yearbook’s contents that is used to plan and track coverage.
LAYOUT
Arrangement of pictures, captions, headlines and copy on two facing pages.
NAME PLATE
A metal plate engraved with student’s name and used to personalize a yearbook. The plate can be gold or silver and comes with an adhesive backing so student can attach it to their yearbook.
NAME STAMP
The personalization of a yearbook by stamping an individual’s name on the cover in a colored foil.
PICA
The standard measurement in yearbook. A pica equals 1/6 inch. Typically there is one pica or 1/2 pica of space between photos and copy.
PORTRAITS
A posed photo of a person that usually only includes the person’s head and shoulders. Also referred to as “mug shots.”
SPREAD
Two facing pages in a yearbook, such as 2 and 3, 4 and 5, 6 and 7, and so on.
TEMPLATE
A basic layout design that you can plug images and copy into. You can create your own template or use editable templates provided by Herff Jones.
THEME OR UNIFIER
A statement or idea which clearly communicates the action, tempo, mood and personality of the students at your school this year. A theme unifies the message of the yearbook.
TITLE PAGE
Page one of the yearbook. It usually contains at least one photo (often a photo of the school building) the name of the school, school address, school phone number and year. If a theme is used, it should be introduced here as well.
YEARBOOK
A type of a book published annually used to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school. It is often the only permanent record of the students, staff and events of a given school and year.
YERD
Yearbook + Nerd = Yerd. A Yerd is someone who loves the process of imagining one of their school’s most comprehensive projects and then creating it for all members of the school community.
