Sunday, November 23, 2008

Newsletters!

Newsletter/ENewsletter Comparison

Similarities in all the Formats:
I noticed in all the formats that no matter what approach they were taking, key elements were all present.  All the newsletters, online or printed, had a Masthead, header, issue #, month & year, a deck, callouts, a columned grid system, and images.

Series Indicator:
The evidence on each of the newsletters that shows its a part of a series, is the issue #, month & year, or any other type of calendar element.

Differences between the Formats:
There is a huge difference between the format and lay out of ENewsletters compared to Printed Newsletters.  ENewsletters are all vertically laid out because moving up and down is the only feasible movement on a screen.

Printed Newsletters have many more options of what format and layout they can use, so there was much more variety differing the examples in the book.  

Content's Presentation Limited by Format:
One thing that bound printable Newsletters was making it a mailable size.  Many printable newsletters based their format off of the maximum size you can mail cheap to save money.   They are also limited to a set amount of space.  They have to pick the layout, size of paper, how many pages, etc.,  hoping it will accommodate every issue for the publication's duration.  Many of Newsletter's I've seen are a folded piece of paper, and that's it.  Not much to work with if your content switches up.

ENewsletters have many limitations I noticed.  First of all, they're flat.  They are one sided and non-interactive.  Then, they have to be scrunched on a very tall area, that is not seen all the time.  You only have the screen height to be seen at one time.  I'll be honest, I was getting pretty uninterested with many of them as I scrolled for eternity, looking at the same layout over and over again.

What Printed Layout would Translate Well to an ENewsletter?:
I think the Rund Herum format would translate well online.  If the consecutive pages were stacked on on top the other, it would flow nicely.  This publication has a wide, one columned grid for the most part that would be most easily read extensively in a long vertical column.  It's got nice white space which I longed for on the example ENewsletters on Wolske's Blog.  It has interesting pictures that would break up the reading to allow you some relief and amusement.   I think scrolling up and down this would be easiest because of it's simplicity and cleanliness.

Emigre & Fontshop Printing & Emailing Newsletters:
I think these two foundries are smart for doing both.  Emailing a newsletter offers you free quick information that you can get out to everyone.  A printed out newsletter however, can reach and speak to those more interested and serious in the foundry.  A tangible copy reaching these people is very beneficial because lay out options, format options, grid options, and typography options are much more available, in which a finer product could be produced and grab their interest more.  And also, there is something about having something in your hands that you can look at for reals, that a computer screen will never be able to compare to.  Also, sending out these newsletters is like advertising their style and giving a collectible keepsake to all who receive it, which I see as another bonus. 

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