Text Properties to Consider
Text media is not just meant to be seen. It is meant to be read and understood. How well readers receive the content embedded in a particular text will depend on the form in which it is presented. Whether in print or on our computers, much of what text media is available to us today is usually presented through the use of typefaces. Typefaces vary in legibility and readability as well as in their usefulness for accomplishing certain tasks.
The following are some things to consider when using typefaces.
The following are some things to consider when using typefaces.
Typeface Choice
The purpose of your text must be concordant with your choice of typeface. Typefaces are categorized into two groups:
Text Typefaces - Used when legibility is one’s primary concern, typically for small print and for long passages of text. (e.g. Helvetica, Garamond, Times New Roman)
Display Typefaces - Used when projecting a mood or attitude is important, typically for names, logos, titles, headings, and other short passages of text. Typically larger or more decorative. (e.g. Comic Sans, Old English, Modula)
Generally, typefaces also carry certain “characters” and “personalities.” Some might give the reader an impression of femininity or masculinity, some might capture the mood of a particular era or culture, and others might give the reader a casual feel or an air of professionalism. Choosing a typeface that matches and enhances the message you’re trying to convey will make it more effective.
Text Typefaces - Used when legibility is one’s primary concern, typically for small print and for long passages of text. (e.g. Helvetica, Garamond, Times New Roman)
Display Typefaces - Used when projecting a mood or attitude is important, typically for names, logos, titles, headings, and other short passages of text. Typically larger or more decorative. (e.g. Comic Sans, Old English, Modula)
Generally, typefaces also carry certain “characters” and “personalities.” Some might give the reader an impression of femininity or masculinity, some might capture the mood of a particular era or culture, and others might give the reader a casual feel or an air of professionalism. Choosing a typeface that matches and enhances the message you’re trying to convey will make it more effective.
Type Styles
Type styles refer to a modified version of a typeface. For instance, text could be set in italic, bold, ALL CAPS, or underlined types. Most are very useful for emphasis, and work well for display types; however, long passages of body type should rarely be set in one of these types.
Color
The color of text against the color of the background it’s printed on is a major contributing factor to legibility. Black text on a white background is by far the most legible combination. Studies have shown that black text on lightly tinted backgrounds are both legible and found attractive by most people. Texts and backgrounds that utilize different levels of brightness of the same color have shown similar results. Though contrasting background and text colors generally serve well to distinguish the two, certain contrasting color combinations cause eye strain and should not be used. The same can be said for text colors that blend into the background’s color because they render the text unreadable.
Point Size
The point size of letters affects their legibility. Text that is too small is difficult to read –especially for older readers with waning eyesight and younger audiences who are just learning to read. If the size of the letters is so big that the reader cannot read the text using normal eye sweeps, the physiology of reading will be disrupted and slowed. A proper point size must be utilized, depending on the text’s intended purpose and audience.
Spacing
Overly-tight spacing interferes with the reader’s ability to recognize word forms. An r n that melts together to look like an m, a c l that looks like a d, or a v v that looks like a w is bound to trip people up, for example. When word spacing is too wide, however, readers have to search for the next word in the sentence and the reading process is slowed.