Doppelseite

A Doppelseite, or two-page spread, is a unit of page design that comprises two facing pages treated as a single visual surface when the book is open. It is used to create a continuous layout that can accommodate large images, extended text, or a combination of both.

In practice, a Doppelseite often features a panoramic photograph, a long feature article, or an advertisement that flows across the gutter between the left and right pages. Designers plan the composition so that important elements do not fall too close to the inner margin, and they may allow typography to span across the break or to align carefully with elements on the opposite page. The gutter, the space between the two pages, is a key consideration in ensuring readability and visual balance.

Production-wise, Doppelseiten are usually created on a wider sheet that is printed, folded, and bound to form part of a larger publication. Careful attention is given to bleed and safe areas to prevent critical content from being trimmed away, and to the alignment of imagery and text across the fold.

Usage and terminology vary by language and context. In German, the term Doppelseite denotes a two-page spread. In English, it is commonly referred to as a two-page spread or a double-page spread. Doppelseiten are common in magazines, catalogs, coffee-table books, newspapers, and annual reports, wherever a dramatic, continuous presentation is desired.