Volume 48 Number 9 - June 2021

[Stuart Taylor]

I experimented in this issue with having just one column on a page and not 2. Which is better? The emails I have had are evenly divided

[Graeme Dunbar]

I prefer two column. I would not claim dyslexia or other condition without ever having been diagnosed, but I do struggle with long lines of text. I guess it may be more of a physical limitation with tracking lines of text related to my ophthalmic prescription. Please don't move away from a Sans Serif font though.

I note Railway Modeller is mostly three column, but the point size is smaller.  There is probably some secret magic formula for font size, line spacing and column width for ease of reading.

[cp.409067]

*

For an A4 page width and the relevant size of typeface, two columns are far better than one. The text becomes clearer and easier to read.


CP

[Frank]

Another vote for two columns.  I find the two column format easier to read at this size of type and page.  I also find it is more engaging or inviting; perhaps because the single column format is harder to read, as in more like hard work, it put me off reading the articles.  I had noticed they were less easy to read without realising why.

Frank

[Hugh Norwood]

I also would to for two columns (at 10pt).

Keep up the good work, Stuart!

[Peter Boulter]

I agree that the line length of a two column layout is much easier to read. The John Ahern article in particular was very difficult to scan.

I'd agree with that. I too found the John Ahern article interesting but difficult to read as a single column.
I found that the single column layout looked too 'text dense' and didn't encourage me to read it. I think a two column layout works much better and is easier to read.

[Moxy]

Another vote here for two columns, much easier to read.

[warbs]

Agreed - two columns easier to scan and read for me

[Stuart Taylor]

Well that was a resounding vote for the two column format! There are two articles in the current issue which are single column but have a lot of whitespace around them and short paragraphs which I will leave as is but the rest I will ensure is two column, particularly the AGM pieces which are all text. I'll also aim to make two column the default going forwards. After the comment on Railway Modeller I want and had a look and ths month they have a four column article. Thank you for the feedback, duly noted!

Any thoughts on moving all the society regular bits to inside the front cover? I always felt that there was space in the front cover that was under utilised and I don't feel the need to have a significant area where I was lyrical. After all, I see my purpose as showcasing your work in the best way possible.

[Hobby]

I never noticed!! I'll just go with the flow! ;) :)

[Malcolm]

I thought I had placed a vote for two columns but it must not have saved to the thread. 
Regarding the inside front cover I thought the Society regular bits took up too much space and could possibly have been reduced in size, it looked a little untidy if I am honest. 
Something Tom Dauben did when he was editor was to repeat the front cover photograph in a much smaller size but with an extended caption on the inside front cover.  If something is good enough to be on the front cover then it deserves a full explanation even if there is an article elsewhere in the News.  You should still have some space available for any urgent announcements or Editors waffle profound words of wisdom.
Or how about a picture series - "Heritage Collection Model of the Month" (Sorry Julien should have run that idea past you first)
Malcolm

[MickT]

Malcolm has beaten me to it as I was about to write with comments that just about mirror what he has stated!

1. Definitely 2 (and if appropriate on occasions: 3) but NOT 1 column! There was a period in 009 News history, after Hugh's blue pencil tenure early 2000's when 1 column was used quite a lot and there was quite a deluge of criticism about it at the time, which has been reflected in comments here - mainly that most people (not just old ones or dyslexic ones (guilty on both counts myself to some degree) find a single column on an A4 page in something around 10 point and single line spacing very difficult to read. The JHA article with no photos being a good example as well as the Barnstaple Town article with photos top and bottom of both pages and the body text in the middle in single column being another.

Thatched cottage article pages 6 and 7 in 2 column being much more comfortable as is page 8 of David Hennessey's Knightwing, which shows a different variety of 2 column, where the lead 2 paragraphs are single column but sit quite comfortably in this case.

2. You asked for feedback on the new page 2 layout and moving your editorial to go with other Committee notices/ Society News stuff on pages 20-21.  My own opinion is that it is fine and the result on page 2 is very well balanced. Good to see that the committee member's panel is now complete and all are included, something I have corresponded with Julian about myself and I am quite comfortable that it is only the Directors who have full addresses shown with just emails for the "lower top table". Having the key to the executive bog has to come with a price otherwise everyone would want to enjoy the luxuries that come with the free 1st class travel and penthouse suite booking at the Travelodge on committee meeting weekends.......

3. I have spotted your first proof reading oversight - page 13 bottom right photo caption.

4. Surprised that Malcolm didn't comment on the opening paragraph of John Davies' article on JH Ahern where he says how delighted he was to learn "just how much of the Craig & Mertonford survives and is kept for posterity by the Society". Just for the record, the Society keeps just 2 C&MR items safe in the Heritage Collection - England loco Angus and one of the Moko diecast goods wagons. Malcolm is guardian of most of the surviving stock, the Dundreich section of the C&MR and other PD Hancock items and artefacts on behalf of the Edinburgh & Lothians MRC.

I do actually totally agree with Malcolm's suggestion about a picture series of "Heritage Collection Model of the Month" plus a decent write up about the provenance of the subject is very welcomed and actually overdue. Similar expansion of knowledge about the collection has been proposed regularly for many years to my own knowledge. I would supplement this suggestion with a small addition in that where we have extensive collections preserved and safeguarded that these could form whole articles rather than just a "model of the month" in their own right - not every month but maybe 2 or 3 times a year, I'm thinking of the Aire Valley, Stronachlachar, HB Whall models as examples for this idea.

Finally (sorry for waffle!) - thank you for taking on the job, 2 issues in I think you are doing very well!

Mick Thornton

[JulienW]

Another vote for 2 (or more) narrower columns of text. Like GreameD I find that with wide columns of text my eye can drop me back to the start of the line I've just read rather than the next line down.

Btw I do suffer with mild dyslexia, and a tip I'll pass on is that I have found that when my eyes play this game if I tilt the page slightly so that the end of one line is horizontally aligned with the start of the next the reading of the text flows much better.

[Hugh Norwood]

I think that Railway Modeller can get away with 3 or even 4 columns because they print on paper that is larger than A4

I feel that going to 3 columns may leave space for too few words per line per column?

That having been said I notice that, back when I was roped to the tiller, I used both 2 and 3 column text!

[MickT]

That having been said I notice that, back when I was roped to the tiller, I used both 2 and 3 column text!

Exactly Hugh. I wouldn't recommend 3 columns as a default. I think 2 is the one for that, but sometimes it is appropriate to use a 3 column layout, as you did on occasions yourself. Branchlines suits a 3 column layout when appropriate: Chris used 3 columns for Branchlines in the April News with a larger font size than Stuart has used with 2 column for the new June issue, although Stuart has used larger line spacing, I think it is 1½ lines, which makes it easier to read.

Another area where a 3 column "spacing" but actually using 2 columns is to set up text to flow in column 1, then merge columns 2 and 3 for photos and their captions, which was used successfully regularly by Tom and Steve when they had the helm if I remember correctly and it enables one to ring the changes between a large single column width photo and smaller ones inserted into a 2 column layout, with "medium" size photos.

Mick