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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Rivers

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In graphic design, rivers means: Apparent channels of white space running through successive lines of text.

In Turkish: metindeki beyaz kanallar

How it is used

Use for accidental alignments of word spaces, especially in justified text.

Example sentences

  1. Several rivers run through the tightly justified paragraph.

    Aligned gaps draw the eye down the paragraph instead of along each line.

  2. Changing the line breaks removed the rivers from the book page.

    Redistributing words interrupts the unwanted pattern of connected spaces.

Common collocations

  • rivers of white space
  • avoid rivers
  • alignmentThe way elements line up with each other or with an edge, for example text set flush left, centred or justified, which helps a design look neat and connected.
  • body copyThe main, longer text of a design, such as paragraphs in a brochure or article, as opposed to headlines, captions and other short text.

More terms: Typography

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