--- title: CLF Magazine Design System status: governing version: 1.0 created: 2026-08-16 source: Founding Prospectus visual language + CommUNITY Press design tokens --- # CLF Magazine Design System Magazine-quality print PDF design system for the Community Land Foundation prospectus magazine series. Built on the established CommUNITY Press visual language: forest green, aged bronze, ivory paper, restrained archival elegance. ## 1. Color Tokens All colors are defined as hex values for screen proof and will be converted to CMYK at commercial print preflight. | Token | Hex | RGB | CMYK (target) | Usage | |------------------|-----------|------------------|-----------------------|------------------------------------------| | `ink` | `#2e2e2e` | 46, 46, 46 | 0, 0, 0, 82 | Body text, display headlines | | `paper` | `#f7f2e6` | 247, 242, 230 | 2, 4, 10, 0 | Page ground (warm ivory) | | `cream` | `#efe6d4` | 239, 230, 212 | 4, 8, 16, 0 | Sidebar / box fill, alternate ground | | `field` | `#1f3829` | 31, 56, 41 | 70, 30, 65, 18 | Deep forest green — covers, chapter bands| | `ochre` | `#8c6b38` | 140, 107, 56 | 25, 45, 75, 20 | Bronze accent — rules, kickers, spines | | `archive-gold` | `#c9a34e` | 201, 163, 78 | 15, 30, 75, 5 | Seal, cover mark, plate kickers | | `mute` | `#5b5348` | 91, 83, 72 | 10, 15, 30, 55 | Captions, folios, meta text | | `rule` | `#d4c6ad` | 212, 198, 173 | 10, 15, 30, 5 | Column rules, hairline dividers | | `white` | `#ffffff` | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | Plate text, reverse type | | `water` | `#38667f` | 56, 102, 127 | 60, 30, 15, 20 | Watershed / water feature accent | | `gap-red` | `#8a3a2a` | 138, 58, 42 | 20, 70, 75, 30 | [GAP] markers — editorial honesty flag | ### Color usage rules - `field` is the dominant brand color. Use for covers, chapter opener bands, and primary display type on plate pages. - `ochre` is the primary accent. Use for rules, kickers, cover spine, pull quote borders. Never use as a large fill. - `archive-gold` is the seal / cover-mark color. Restrained use only. - `paper` is the default page ground for all text pages. - `cream` is used for sidebars, boxes, and diagram backgrounds. - `gap-red` is exclusively for `[GAP]` editorial markers — never decorative. ## 2. Typography ### Font families | Role | Font (print aim) | ReportLab fallback | Sizes (pt) | |-------------------|---------------------------|--------------------------------|-------------------------------| | Display / H1 | Libre Baskerville Bold | Times-Bold | 24–36 | | Body / long-form | Source Serif 4 | Times-Roman | 10.5 / 15.5 leading | | UI / kickers | Source Sans 3 | Helvetica | 8–9, tracked +0.2em | | Folios / captions | Source Sans 3 | Helvetica | 7.5–8 | | Pull quotes | Libre Baskerville Italic | Times-Italic | 14–16 | ### Type scale (letter page, pt) | Element | Size | Leading | Weight | Tracking | Color | |-------------------|-------|---------|------------|-------------|-----------| | Cover title | 36 | 1.06 | Bold | -0.02em | white | | Display headline | 24 | 1.12 | Bold | -0.015em | field | | Chapter title | 18 | 1.15 | Bold | -0.01em | field | | Section heading | 13 | 1.2 | Bold | normal | field | | Deck / subtitle | 12 | 1.42 | Italic | normal | mute | | Body | 10.5 | 1.52 | Regular | normal | ink | | Pull quote | 14.5 | 1.32 | Italic | normal | field | | Kicker | 8 | 1.3 | Regular | +0.2em | field | | Caption | 8 | 1.35 | Regular | +0.03em | mute | | Folio | 7.5 | 1.0 | Regular | +0.06em | mute | | Meta / source | 8 | 1.35 | Regular | normal | mute | ### Typography rules - `CommUNITY` should subtly emphasize UNITY through tracking, not a font change. - `THE FUTURE IS CULTIVATED` gets slightly increased letter spacing on the cover. - All-caps kickers use tracked `+0.2em` to `+0.32em` letter spacing. - Body text is justified in two-column layouts with hyphenation. - Pull quotes are set in italic display serif with an ochre left-border rule. ## 3. Page Geometry ### Page size | Property | Value | Notes | |------------------|----------------|------------------------------------------| | Trim size | 8.5 × 11 in | US Letter (screen proof); print aim same | | Bleed | 0.125 in | Reserved for print preflight | | Outer margin | 0.72 in | Right and top | | Inner margin | 0.72 in | Left and bottom (single-page proof) | | Content width | 7.06 in | 8.5 - 2 × 0.72 | | Content height | 9.56 in | 11 - 2 × 0.72 | | Column count | 2 | Long-form text pages | | Column gap | 0.30 in | With 0.5pt rule between columns | | Column width | 3.38 in | (7.06 - 0.30) / 2 | ### Layout types 1. **Cover plate** — Full-bleed background, spine bar, seal, cover mark, plate kicker, title, caption. No folio. No margin. 2. **Chapter opener** — Full-bleed plate left, title + kicker right. No body text on opener. Folio hidden or minimal. 3. **Text page** — Inner padding, kicker, display headline, optional deck, two-column body, optional sidebar, optional pull quote, folio at bottom. 4. **Principle page** — Centered vertically. Single typographic statement. No image. No body text. Large negative space. 5. **Diagram page** — Kicker, headline, diagram box (cream ground, rule border), caption, source line, folio. 6. **Contents page** — Section headers, entry list with page numbers, hairline dividers between entries. 7. **Colophon** — Meta text, source list, gap disclosure, print status, build timestamp, folio. ### Folio system - Position: bottom of page, full content width. - Left: section name (e.g. "Land is the tool"). - Right: page number. - Font: Source Sans 3 / Helvetica, 7.5pt, `mute` color, tracked +0.06em. - Cover and plate pages: no folio. ## 4. Component Specifications ### Pull quote - Left border: 3pt solid `ochre`. - Font: Libre Baskerville Italic / Times-Italic, 14.5pt, `field` color. - Leading: 1.32. - Margin: 0.22in top/bottom, 0.20in right, 0.18in left padding. - Max width: content width (full or single column). ### Sidebar - Float right, width 2.05in. - Background: `cream`. - Top border: 3pt solid `field`. - Padding: 0.14in. - Font: Source Sans 3 / Helvetica, 8pt, leading 1.4. - Heading: 7.5pt, tracked +0.16em, uppercase, `field` color. ### Box (callout) - Background: `cream`. - Top border: 2pt solid `ochre`. - Padding: 0.12in × 0.14in. - Font: Source Sans 3 / Helvetica, 8.5pt, leading 1.4. - Heading: 8pt, tracked +0.14em, uppercase, `field` color. ### [GAP] marker - Inline-block, font: Source Sans 3 / Helvetica, 7pt. - Color: `gap-red`. - Border: 0.5pt solid `#c48a7a`. - Padding: 1px × 6px. - Tracked +0.1em, uppercase. - Used only for honest editorial gap disclosure — never decorative. ### Diagram box - Background: `cream`. - Border: 0.5pt solid `rule`. - Padding: 0.08in. - SVG centered, max-width 100%. - Caption below: 7.5pt, `mute`, left-aligned. ### Seal (cover) - Circle, 1.05in diameter. - Border: 1.6pt solid `archive-gold`. - Inner ring: 0.6pt solid `rgba(201,163,78,0.55)`, 0.88in diameter. - Text: Source Sans 3 / Helvetica, 6.4pt, tracked +0.12em, uppercase. - Content: "Terra Una / Unitas / Aeterna". - Color: `archive-gold`. ### Cover spine - Position: left edge, full height. - Width: 0.16in. - Background: `ochre`. - Z-index: above plate, below text. ## 5. Grid System ### Two-column text page ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ 0.72in margin │ │ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Column 1 │ │ Column 2 │ │ │ │ 3.38in │ │ 3.38in │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │ │ 0.30in gap with 0.5pt rule │ │ ──────────── folio ──────────── │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ### Plate page (full-bleed) ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ▐│ plate image fills entire page │ │ ▐│ │ │ ▐│ cover-mark (top-left) │ │ ▐│ status-banner (top-right) │ │ ▐│ │ │ ▐│ seal (upper-left, cover only) │ │ ▐│ │ │ ▐│ plate-kicker (bottom-left) │ │ ▐│ plate-title (bottom-left) │ │ ▐│ plate-caption (bottom, full width) │ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ ▐ = ochre spine bar (cover only) ``` ## 6. ReportLab Implementation Notes ### Canvas approach The PDF generator uses `reportlab.pdfgen.canvas.Canvas` for full control over page-level layout. This is required because magazine layouts need absolute positioning for plates, sidebars, pull quotes, and folios — `SimpleDocTemplate` and `Platypus` flowables are too restrictive for magazine spreads. ### Font registration ```python from reportlab.pdfbase import pdfmetrics from reportlab.pdfbase.ttfonts import TTFont # If Libre Baskerville / Source Serif 4 / Source Sans 3 are installed: # pdfmetrics.registerFont(TTFont('LibreBaskerville', 'path/to/LibreBaskerville-Regular.ttf')) # pdfmetrics.registerFont(TTFont('LibreBaskerville-Bold', 'path/to/LibreBaskerville-Bold.ttf')) # Fallback (always available): # Times-Roman, Times-Bold, Times-Italic, Helvetica, Helvetica-Bold ``` The script auto-detects installed fonts and falls back to PDF standard fonts (Times + Helvetica) when custom fonts are not found. This ensures the script runs in any environment. ### Color registration ```python from reportlab.lib.colors import HexColor INK = HexColor('#2e2e2e') PAPER = HexColor('#f7f2e6') CREAM = HexColor('#efe6d4') FIELD = HexColor('#1f3829') OCHRE = HexColor('#8c6b38') GOLD = HexColor('#c9a34e') MUTE = HexColor('#5b5348') RULE = HexColor('#d4c6ad') WHITE = HexColor('#ffffff') WATER = HexColor('#38667f') GAP_RED = HexColor('#8a3a2a') ``` ### Units ```python from reportlab.lib.units import inch PAGE_W = 8.5 * inch PAGE_H = 11 * inch MARGIN = 0.72 * inch BLEED = 0.125 * inch COL_GAP = 0.30 * inch COL_W = (PAGE_W - 2 * MARGIN - COL_GAP) / 2 ``` ## 7. Editorial Rules (from EDITORIAL_CONSTITUTION.md) 1. **Truth over polish** — no invented metrics, no fake photos, no false claims. 2. **Gap honesty** — missing source text is marked `[GAP]`, never fabricated. 3. **Voice** — calm, institutional, multi-generational; drama in layout, not hype. 4. **Land is the tool, not the mission** — always. 5. **Counsel flags** — donor restrictions, ownership, housing, tax, international: require legal review before public reliance. 6. **Attribution** — every image has rights metadata before public build. 7. **Print status** — never label "print-ready" until commercial preflight passes. ## 8. Print Preflight Gates (not yet claimed) | Gate | Status | Requirement | |---------------------|-------------|------------------------------------------| | Bleed | Reserved | 0.125in on all four sides | | CMYK conversion | Not started | All spot colors → CMYK profile | | Font embedding | Not started | All fonts embedded in PDF | | Image resolution | Not started | 300dpi minimum for all raster images | | Rich black / overprint | Not started | Verify black generation settings | | PDF/X compliance | Not started | Export as PDF/X-1a or PDF/X-4 | **Current status: screen proof only. Not commercial print-ready.** ## 9. Issue Structure Template Each issue follows this page sequence: 1. Cover plate (page 1) 2. Masthead / edition truth (page 2) 3. Contents (page 3) 4. Part I — Book I excerpts / reserved gaps (pages 4–5) 5. Part II — Chapter openers and body (pages 6–N) 6. Feature principle pages (interleaved) 7. Closing plate (page N-1) 8. Colophon / sources / gaps / print status (last pages) ## 10. File Structure ``` workspaces/clf-magazine/ ├── design/ │ ├── CLF_DESIGN_SYSTEM.md ← this file │ ├── tokens/ │ │ └── tokens.json ← machine-readable color/type tokens │ ├── templates/ │ └── covers/ ├── manuscript/ │ ├── books/ │ ├── front-matter/ │ ├── back-matter/ │ └── diagrams/ ├── content/ │ └── issue-01/ │ ├── spreads/ │ ├── sidebars/ │ └── pull-quotes/ ├── build/ │ ├── pdf/ ← generated PDFs │ ├── previews/ │ └── print/ ├── assets/ │ ├── images/ │ ├── diagrams/ │ ├── icons/ │ └── fonts/ ├── image-rights/ ├── scripts/ │ └── generate_issue_pdf.py ← reportlab PDF generator └── reviews/ ``` ## 11. Source Provenance This design system is derived from: - `workspaces/community-press/design/tokens/magazine.css` — original CSS tokens - `workspaces/community-press/DESIGN_BRIEF.md` — NatGeo institutional grammar - `workspaces/community-press/VISUAL_CONSTITUTION.md` — visual rules - `workspaces/community-press/EDITORIAL_CONSTITUTION.md` — editorial rules - `workspaces/community-press/scripts/build_magazine_proof.py` — HTML proof builder - `public/prospectus/files/manuscript__Book_I_Declaration_from_ChatGPT_235AM.md` — Book I source - `public/prospectus/files/art_direction__spreads__FROM_CHATGPT_01_FOUNDING_PROSPECTUS.md` — art direction - `workspaces/community-press/build/edition-0.9/prospectus_edition_0.9.md` — assembled edition Colors, type families, spacing, and editorial rules are carried forward verbatim from the established CommUNITY Press design system. The reportlab implementation is new — the previous proof used HTML→Playwright; this pipeline generates PDF directly via reportlab for finer typographic control.