A method for arranging a plurality of graphic elements on a page into a final page layout is described. The method includes identifying a maximum cropping factor (CF) that determines the maximum amount by which a graphic element on the page can be cropped, obtaining a preliminary layout for the graphic elements on the page by, assigning a final area on the page to the preliminary layout, allocating a final area on the page for each graphic element; and fitting each graphic element to its allocated final area.