Direction of print on an 11x17 foldout

[Randall Chapman]

I was told today that you cannot print a table of text lengthwise on an 11x17 foldout--like a Playboy playmate foldout. Instead you have to break the table into two regular 8.5 x 11s so that the reader doesn't have to turn the book or binder to read the information--we wouldn't want to inconvenience the government proposal evaluator. My opinion is this is just a myth and is not written down as a rule. If the information is better displayed lengthwise without breaking it into two, what does it matter if the reader has to rotate the book or binder 90 degrees to read it. Back in the day, I certainly wasn't inconvenienced to turn a Playboy magazine to see the whole picture--wouldn't make sense to cut the bunny in two.

If you think this is a rule, please tell me where I may find it in writing. Else, I will continue to say that it is just a myth. Sometimes you need to color outside the lines.

Randy