Here’s a quick design tip on design from issue 43 of Before&After Magazine.
Draw the reader into your story by adding to your page a small object or two from the scene. This softens hard edges and gives your layout an inviting, human dimension.
The Jeeps are big and mechanical and coming at you! By adding objects that are small enough to hold in your hand, you’ll warm the scene by giving it a human scale. Natural objects like stones and leaves serve to soften straight, artificial edges.
For the most tactile look, remove the object from its original background, and place it right on the page! Add a hint of shadow.
CreativePro members can download original content from Before&After Magazine, a beloved resource that taught a generation of newly minted digital designers how to design and communicate effectively with the written word. See our archive here.
© John McWade/Before&After Magazine, courtesy of Gaye Anne McWade.
This article was last modified on January 4, 2026
This article was first published on August 30, 2024
Commenting is easier and faster when you're logged in!
Recommended for you
Get Many Images From One Original Photo
This 18-page article from issue 39 of Before&After Magazine shows you how to get...
Before&After: Design Like a Lazy Person
Design is easier if you segregate your page into two zones—image here, type ther...
Before&After Design Tip: Bring the Outside in
Key tips for making the inside of a printed piece match the outside