By the way, it’s pronounced pieka, as in pie, not pika. Please, no pika.
A quick recap from the last post:
1 inch = 6 picas
1 pica = 12 points
1 inch = 72 points
Why Use Points and Picas?
The thing that I like about using the pica system for page layout is that a US standard 8.5 x 11 inch (known as “letter”) document divides in half and into thirds exactly with picas. Do you know what one third of 8.5 is off the top of your head? Well it’s not even an exact number: 2.8333 to infinity.
However, if you were using picas, you’d know that since 8.5 (inches) x 6 (picas per inch) = 51 picas, then one third is exactly 17 picas.
It works beautifully on the length too. 11 (inches) x 6 (picas per inch) = 66. Then 66/3 = 22! Isn’t that much easier than 11/3 = 3.667?
And since tabloid (11 x 17), another common US paper size, is just two 8.5 x 11 documents put together, it works with that too!
Implementing the System
Picas and points make aligning text to a standard baseline throughout a document easier, too. In other words, two columns of text next to each other will sit on the same lines, as well as text from page to page.
Here’s an example of how to set up the common baseline, forgive me if it’s a little confusing:
I like to design with 10 point type in general, with 12 points of leading (pronounce it as in the metal, lead, with -ing). In order to align all of my type exactly to the same baseline, so that the text in separate columns and pages sit on the same line, I need to set my baseline in InDesign at 1 pica (Edit>Preferences>Grids, modify the Increment Every field). Why? Look back at the leading. Leading is the distance between baselines. 12 points is the leading I’m using, and 12 points = 1 pica, therefore my baseline needs to be 1 pica.
With this baseline set, I will use a 12 point subhead and 1 pica (AKA 12 points) of space after the end of each section, before the subhead. Using these measurements, I can be assured that all my text will line up. It takes a bit of planning, but it’s worth it!
Other sets of measurements I’ve figured out:
Using 8.5 point type you can have 12 point subheads, 1p6 of space between sections, 18 point leading, which means baselines set at 1p6. This offers a large amount of space in between the lines and it’s easy to read even though the point size is small.
With a 12 point font for your body copy, you can use a 14 point subhead with 18 points of space inbetween sections and 18 points of leading overall. These measurements make your baseline equal 1p6, or 18 points.
Have you noticed the connection between the leading, grid and space between sections? They are all equal! This is because the leading and the baseline are the same thing. The space between? All we are doing is skipping a full line, without putting the extra hard return in. Get it?
Keep This Handy
For an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper, use the following point/pica measurements:
- 8.5 x 11 inches = 51 x 66 picas
- In half: a guide at 25.5 picas for the width and at 33 picas for the length
- In thirds: guides at 17 and 34 picas for the width, guides at 22 and 44 picas for the length
Oh, and for your bleeds, 1/4 inch = 1p6.
Need other standard sizes converted into picas? Use this chart from Burbank Printing.
I would love to hear if any of you use the pica system (or will now switch!). Whether or not you currently use it, what do you think of the pica system? Is it worth the energy to memorize another way to measure?
ok, I’m printing this out and reading on my way to home. Thanks!
Awesome! I hope it’s helpful, Vivien, at least for when you are designing with standard American sized papers!
Have to take advantage of being able to get to your site whenever I can, Lauren.
It’s funny, your asking if anyone uses “the pica system”. I pretty much think of picas ans points as the system. It drives me crazy when books I get in from clients are done in inches. I mean, the page size, I can live with, but everything else ought to be picas and points. I mean, that’s how print is measured, no?
Hi Steve, glad you could stop by again
It’s interesting, in school (2003-2006) I was never taught picas. Points yes, because even Word uses points. But one of my layout professors laughed at Craig (my friend that also does book design) when he asked why we aren’t learning picas. The professor said it was antiquated and no one really used it anymore. All of my typography books mention using picas, so I thought it would be a good idea to learn them. But this was after college, when I did my first big print project. It was a little confusing at first, and not having someone to answer questions made it frustrating. But once I understood it, I loved it! It makes things soooo much more simple!
I’m glad to hear you say it is THE system. All of my young designer friends, and many of my older (than me) self-taught design colleagues don’t use picas. I thought I was just being old-fashioned. It’s nice to know I’m actually being professional!
Ooh, very informative! I don’t do much in print, but I will definitely come back to this when I do!
p.s. Great idea at the bottom of your RSS feed!
Hi Kristarella, I’m glad you found it useful. Vivien (Inspirationbit) and I had a discussion about using picas with non-American standard size papers. I’m not sure it would work so well
Picas don’t seem to play nice with ISO sized paper (A3, A4 and so on). Is that what you use in Australia?
Re: RSS sticky PDF, yes I had several readers ask for a PDF and I thought, why not give it away as a bonus for signing up? I got the idea from Chris G of course, and that’s a plugin he helped develop. It’s just a small little way of saying thank you to my subscribed readers!
Thanks for the info, Lauren! (“Not Pika” — hahahaha!)
Your explanations made so much sense, Lauren. Whenever I’ll be dealing with the US standards, I’ll be referring to this post from now on, and base the design on picas. For non-US it’s a bit tricky, I was never a big fan of fractions
Alec, I’m glad you got a kick out of my little illustration! I thought it was funny
Vivien, I’m thrilled that the pica system makes sense to you the way I explained it! If you have any questions about it (or InDesign, or anything graphic design really) please ask away! I’m always happy to help
I was talking to John yesterday as I was switching my DNS and he said he has some comments on these two posts, and I asked him to talk about the ISO papers because he says it works with them. Hopefully he’ll stop by!
jua jua jua jua NOT PICAS
Actually “2.8333 to infinity” is an “exact number”. Its 17/6. Exactly. However, it’s not a whole (or integer) number.
Markus,
I meant that it is not a number that can be precisely marked on the ruler in InDesign. It is not a number we, as designers, can work with easily. You are right, though, technically, in math terms, it is an exact number.
Hi. Interesting and very useful! Thank you. I have a curious question…I am preparing a print ad for a magazine and I was directed to place crop marks at 12 picas away from ad…isn’t that 2″ and does that sound right? Can anyone comment on this? I haven’t done a ton of print so I don’t assume to know, but it just sounds off. Thanks!
Tara,
Yes, 12 picas is 2″ and that is very unusual. Large format prints (banners and the like) often have a bleed of up to 12 picas, but not normal size stuff like magazines. Perhaps they meant 2 picas? That is 1/3 of an inch (still an odd size). I’d ask them again just to be sure and also ask them to give you the measurement in inches, just so everyone is clear! Good luck!
Hey there! Welcome to CC
I LOLed at the illustration! Pikachu is so cute.
Look at those shiny anime eyes!
(Veeeeery slowly getting the hang of points ‘n picas, thanks to you…)
Emily,
I know I keep offering, but if you do have questions, please feel free to ask! Points and picas are a little difficult to get your mind around at first, but after a while, I think you’ll find you prefer them. They are much more precise and it’s easier to deal with whole numbers than fractions and decimals. See my recent article on My Adventures in Letterpress Printing to see pictures of real leading and 1 and 2 point spacing.
Love the site. Wish I had a reference guide like this growing up through finishing school. -Nick
Nick Zeleznak´s last blog …What’s Twitter
I was study at High School 50 years ago. I work in Printing Shop for many years.
I thought you would like to know too.
You can add comment in your “Why Use Points and Picas?”
12 Picas, switch number 21 Picas. 12X21 Picas.
As you know
12 Picas equal to 2 inches.
24 Picas equal to 4 inches.
21 Picas equal to 3.5 inches.
People keep wondering why pick that number 2 X 3.5 inches Business Card?
(It real reason 1221 easy to memory.)
Right now everything Wallet size that Business Card holder place in Wallet, all reason to 1221.
Right now people accept Business Card size as standard without ask why?
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[...] Lauren Marie kindly sent me this link. A wonderful example of what not to do with type. It will take you about 0.2 seconds to spot this little gem. This one is so bad it hurts. Perhaps we need a rogues gallery; perhaps it could be named in honour of this logo — something like Beyond Bad Type. And if you don’t know your points from your picas, then head on over to Lauren’s Using Points and Picas post. [...]
[...] Using Points and Picas –> [via ilovetypography.com] [...]