1. Look at other publications and see what’s out there.7. Establish consistency within publication

Figure

How to get the You want

Some rules of thumb Readability Process 1. Look at other publications and see what’s out there.

2. Determine what fonts you have available.

3. Determine which fit the look you want for the publication.

4. Set a copy of previous edition in new body copy font, size, leading, etc. If readability suffers, reassess.

5. Try different font weight, alignment, size and leading combinations until most readable combinations is found. Readability is your priority.

Test various versions with sample readers.

6. Experiment with different column widths.

7. Establish consistency within publication by defining styles.

1. Serif is more readable in long copy blocks than sans serif. However, for sidebars, captions and headlines, sans serif can provide much needed contrast.

2. Choose a body copy font with at least a bold, an italic and a bold italic version in addition to Roman.

3. Work with your publisher to make sure the font will hold up in print without the serifs breaking down.

4. Never set long blocks of copy in anything but Roman. Avoid long blocks of all caps and bold text.

5. Use a sans serif at extremely small sizes (sports scores) or in reversed text – at least in newspaper where the ink bleeds.

6. To determine the optimum column width, take the point size and multiply it by 1.5 and make it picas. For example, if your body copy is 10 pt., the optimum column width is (10*1.5=) 15 picas.

7. The maximum readable column width is two times the point size in picas. So, for 10 pt. type, the maximum readable column with is (10*2=)20 picas. If you set type wider than that, increase the leading or the point size to compensate.

8. The minimum readable column width is the point size in picas. So, for 10 pt. type, the minimum readable column width is 10 picas. If you set type in columns skinnier than that, decrease the point size.

9. Flush left text and justified text are the easiest to read.

10. NEVER change the font, size or leading of your body copy within an issue. Establish consistency.

Readability First

By BRadley Wilson • wilsonbrad@aol.com

Most popular body copy fonts Times..................... 29% Palatino................ 13% Garamond .......... 8%1 Other..................... 50%2 SOURCE: Survey of Journalism Education Association and College Media Advisers via e-mail distribution lists. All responses voluntary. n=63 1 Includes AGaramond 2 Includes Calisto, Minion (3), Officina Serif (2), Officina Sans, Poynter Oldstyle, Georgia, Stone Serif, Georgia, Goudy, Univers, Century Schoolbook, Lucida Bright, News 706, Gulliver, Slimbach (2), Genesis, Utopia, Rinna, Baskerville, Abadi and Chaparral Pro

Font sizes Average................ 9.99 Median.................. 10 Largest................. 12 Smallest............... 8,5 Font LEADING Average................ 11.56 Median.................. 12 Largest................. 14.4 Smallest............... 9.5 AUTO LEADING is 120% of the point size by default in most programs.

So, for 10 pt. type, the default leading would be 12 pt.

Reasons The most-often cited reason for using Times 10/12 was that it was “PageMaker’s default.”)

Some Innovative and useful fonts Mrs. Eaves • emigre.com abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 1234567890 emigre.com, $99/PostScript, $299/OpenType

Whitney • Hoefler & Frere-Jones

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Californian • Font Bureau

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Shinn • Agfa Monotype

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Hoefler Text • Hoefler & Frere-Jones

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Magellan • Agfa Monotype

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Myriad Pro • Linotype

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linotype.com, $22/each for 43 fonts

Minion • Linotype

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Knockout • Hoefler & Frere-Jones

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Gotham • Hoefler & Frere-Jones

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American Typewriter Bold 12/12, 45p

President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

Gotham 12/12, 45p

President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II.

Berkeley 12/12, 45p

President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

Berkeley 10/12, 22p President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

In London, some 14,000 police -- triple the number originally projected -- are involved in what local papers

Berkeley 10/12, 14.33p President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in

Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

In London, some 14,000 police -- triple the number originally projected -- are involved in what local papers

President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in

Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

In London, some 14,000 police -- triple the number originally projected -- are involved in what local papers

Baskerville 10/12, 14.33p President Bush left for London Tuesday as police here activated the largest security operation in memory, aimed at controlling not only tens of thousands of demonstrators but the potential for terrorism inherent in the meeting of the two political leaders at the helm of the war in Iraq.

One time zone to the east, a funeral procession unprecedented in post-war Italy transformed Rome into a city of mourning.

Hundreds of thousands Italians lined the streets saluting a cortege of coffins bearing the bodies of the 19 Italians killed in an insurgent attack last week on an Italian police base in southern Iraq.

Shops and offices closed and television stations across the country cancelled normal coverage to for live broadcast of the solemn event.

The assault on the Italian contingent participating in the U.S. led coalition in

Iraq shocked the nation, which has not experienced such a loss since the end of World War II. “Our hearts are as big as our heroes,” read a banner held aloft as the funeral procession passed, the Reuters news service reported.

In London, some 14,000 police -- triple the number originally projected -- are involved in what local papers

Minion 10/12, 14.33p