Working With Text

Pull Quotes

1.Always hang the punctuation. 2.Reduce the size of punctuation in large type. 3.Use only one alignment. 4.Make centered type obviously centered and break lines at logical points to create a visually pleasing arrangement. 5.Position initial caps on one of the baselines. 6.Create a style for pull quotes and use it consistently throughout the publication.

X-Height

An exceptionably large x-height decreases legibility. For instance, in a face with a large x-height, the lower case "n" might look very similar to the lower case "h" A very small x-height also decreases legibility. If the height of the lower case letter is disproportionate to the cap height, our eyes find this to be distracting and make it difficult to read

Paragraph Spacing

DO Indent or add spacing (leading) between paragraphs - but don't do both DON'T Double space lines between paragraphs - add leading instead

Hyphens

Em and En dashes do not replace hyphens, just the incorrect use of hyphens. If you are breaking a word at the end of a line, or if you are using a compound adjective as a "blue-green eyes," of course use a hyphen.

Alignments (Justified)

Justified copy can be very distracting to the eye. Even though you may not be consciously aware of how tiring poor letterspacing may be on your eyes, you will suffer eye fatigue when reading poorly spaced type of rivers.

Legibility

Legibility refers to the type form, how easy an individual character, word, or alphabet is to recognize when presented in a particular font

Letterspacing

Letterspacing, or tracking as it is sometimes referred to, is the spacing between individual letters. Attention to letter spacing is necessary because it helps the reader differentiate and separate words, increasing readability. Generally, adjustments in letter spacing is more likely in display type, than in body type (text type).

Leading (linespacing)

Line spacing can increase or decrease readability. Research shows that increased linespacing improves legibility. If line spacing is too tight, the reader's eye will tend to drop through the word spaces into the lines below. As a rule, you will need to increase line spacing if you have a line length that is longer than normal, or if your type font has a large x-height (most sans serif fonts do). Heavy sans serif faces and bold fonts generally require more leading to increase their readability. *As a general rule, for text type you will use between 2 and 4 points extra leading to ensure optimal readability.

Quotations Marks

Quotation marks at the beginning of the word or sentence are opening quote and curl toward the text. Quotation marks at the end of a word or sentence are closing quote marks and curl toward the text. These are often called "sixes and nines" because the opening marks are shaped like sixes and the closing marks are shaped like nines. *Option-[ Option-Shift[

How Many Fonts?

Rarely (if ever) use more than 2 to 3 fonts in any given document/publication

Readability

Readability encompasses both type form and arrangement - how easily a text can be read. A wide range of factors affect this: characteristics of the font, size, contrast, orientation, use of space. Each generation of readers become accustomed to new letterforms through progressive exposure.

Readability (cont.)

Readability of text is affected by the font selection, the point size, spacing (or tracking), line length and leading

Alignments

Regardless of what alignment is used, as a designer you always want to make line lengths as even as possible, even if it means re-breaking lines and/or adjusting the tracking slightly.

Prime Marks

Single and double prime marks another problem with letting your computer automatically type the quotation marks for you is that you end up with quotation marks and apostrophes when you really need inch and foot marks. *Try smart punctuation or replace in GLYPH panel

Typeface

Some typefaces are more legible than others. Research has shown that serif faces generally read better than sans serif faces.

En Dashes

The most common use of an en dash is to indicate a duration. En dashes are commonly used with a little extra space on either side, especially when indicating a duration. Either add a little with your kerning function, or insert a thin space on either side-do not type a whole word space with the Spacebar on either end of the en dash. Also use an en dash instead of a hyphen in a compound adjective when one of the items is two words or a hyphenated word. *To set an en dash(Mac) Option-hyphen

Point Size

The size of type is very important to its legibility. The most legible type sizes for text are 8pt, 9pt, 10pt, and 11pt. Legibility relies further on the x-height of the typeface you specify. If the font you select has a large x-height, then you should use 8 to 10-point type. Likewise, if the font you select has a small x-height, then you should use 10 or 11-point type.

Line Length

The width of a column of text and the eye's ability to focus on an area are also factors determining readability of text. The human eye can keep an area about 4 inches wide in focus without having to turn the head. This means the eye can read a line of text 24 picas wide and easily find the beginning of the next line of text. *A good rule of thumb is to make your optimum line length twice the size of your type in picas. For instance if your point size is 9pts., the optimum line length would be 18 picas.

Small Caps

True-drawn small caps are specifically drawn to match the weight of the capital letters in the same face.

Alignments (Centered)

Type set centered is assumed to be more difficult to read than type set flush left because there is no consistent left margin.

Alignments (Flush Left)

Type set flush left is assumed to be more legible than type set centered or flush right.

Alignments (Flush Right)

Type set flush right is assumed to be more difficult to read than type set centered or flush left.

All Caps

Type set in all capitol letters slows down the readability and uses approximately fifty percent more space. All cap type is acceptable in headlines and captions, but for body copy, lower case letters are more appropriate.

Em Dashes

Use em dashes to set off a phrase that has a lot of commas in it—like this, and thus, and—to avoid confusing the reader. Or mark an abrupt change in thought or sentence structure—how does this look—with an em dash. Em dashes are set with no space before or after the dash. This bothers many people, though, because the dash tends to bump into the letters. So add a tiny bit of space on either side by kerning. *To set an em dash(Mac) Option-shift-hyphen

What Fonts?

When in doubt, stick with the classics... Transitional, Modern, Sans Serif, Display Type if and when appropriate

Italics and Scripts

While italics and scripts are appropriate for showing elegance or giving emphasis, they are more difficult to read when used as a body of text.

Reverse Type

White type on a dark background (reverse) appears to be smaller than black type on a white background. Compensate for this by using a slightly heavier typeface, or increasing the point size slightly.

Condensed Type

You can compress and expand type though most software applications with the click of a button, but the computer distorts the type. If you need a compressed face use a "true-drawn" condensed face. True-drawn faces have been redesigned with different proportions, stroke thicknesses, counter spaces, and other fine features so as to retain the integrity of the typeface and maintain readability.