|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
For easiest legibility at a distance, the
research indicates that the width of a letter's vertical strokes
should be about one-fifth its height. Horizontal strokes may be
slightly thinner. These proportions apply equally to capital and
lower-case letters. - - 1. Letterspacing - The example to
our right demonstrates the importance of a reasonable amount of air
between letters. Extremely close spacing can reduce legibility, even
with a clean, gothic typeface. Notice how crowding can confuse the
intention of the copy by causing certain letters to attach visually
to adjacent letters, thus "clear morn" could be interpreted as "dear
mom." - 2. Perspective - The legibility
problem created by tight letterspacing is compounded when copy lines
are viewed from an angle, which can occur in Outdoor. Condensed
typefaces start to resemble picket fences and horizontal strokes
tend to appear thicker in relationships to the vertical
strokes. - 3. Stacking - This reduces
readability and is not recommended for Outdoor design. With a single
horizontal line of copy, the eye moves through the message rapidly
and without interruption. The stacking of additional lines reduces
this facility and increases the time needed to comprehend the
message. If, however, stacking is necessary for layout purposes,
give careful consideration to line spacing. - 4. Line Spacing - As in the case
of letterspacing, adequate line space is necessary for maximum
legibility. If a copy line is riding "piggyback" on the copy line
below it, the interplay of descenders and ascenders creates
confusion. - 1. Crowding too many letters into a space
tends to repel the eye and thus defeats the objective of getting
type as large as possible. - 2. Too great a contrast between thick and
thin elements leads to confusion, and loss of identity of basic
shapes and letters. - 3. Strokes which are too fine fade into
the background and become invisible at a distance. - 4. Bulky typefaces become blobs at a
distance, basic shapes cannot be distinguished, and letters are not
recognizable. - 5. Script and similar styles sacrifice
the letters basic shape for the decorative aspect, and therefore
individual letters cannot be
identified. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
