On the first right of a busy hallway lies a bustling computer room. With a poster of Chance the Rapper watching us all, the staff of the Roswell literary magazine, Vox, pounds away at their keyboards. Deadlines are approaching, and the slightly-crazy staff is desperate to fill their magazine with an abundance of student-driven creations.
The only thing standing in their way?
Double Page Spreads.
A Double Page Spread (DPS) is defined as two pages of the same article covering both pages of an open publication.
We, at The Vox, like to describe them as: the bane of our existence.
Nevertheless, here are five reasons why I love making double page spreads.
1. I love InDesign.
This is the primary program that we use to create a DPS, and there are so many things to love. I love how it takes more than twenty minutes just to start up; it really aids in the whole deadline aspect of the magazine.
2. I love making lines.
Making a DPS is hard, but designing one is even harder. If you have a piece longer than two pages and don't have the luxury of using art, the best you can do is slap some lines on it and call it day. Unfortunately for you, those lines will never be straight.
3. I love how InDesign keeps you on your toes.
I particularly enjoy how everything is so difficult to find. Want to bold a word? Can't wait to spend thirty minutes trying to do that until you realize it was in the last place you looked. Not only will you not be able to find anything, just copying and pasting might ruin your entire spread. Fortunately, we have our only saving grace: Ctrl-Z.
4. I love putting the design in InDesign.
Similar to the line fiasco from number two, our design skills are very limited. Along with the disaster that is lines, we also have the option of creatively placed squares and triangles. My favorite thing is when I have to spend three days strategically putting tiny squares in designated spots, just to decide that I hate it.
5. I love making Double Page Spreads.
Despite the blood, sweat, and tears, okay maybe not blood, I love making DPS's. Although the whole process can be messy, it's a journey that the staff goes through together. In the end, the best part is having all of that work appear in the form of a physical magazine.
