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Re: Fonts used in print

Subject: Re: Fonts used in print
From: Dick Margulis <margulis -at- fiam -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 08:13:35 -0500




JB Foster wrote:

I don't think I could stomach a book set in sans-serif; although short
sentences, such as instructions, make it ok to read. On the other hand, I
wouldn't go and set the text for 'warnings' in serif, either!

I.M.H.O. It seems straight-forward on deciding what works for dense texts
(serif). Whereas with instruction manuals, it is not so straight forward!
Problem is - what I find easy to read, isn't necessarily the same, as with
my readers.

Bruce



Bruce,

What I am saying remains true; you just don't believe me yet. Pay attention this time!

In the hands of a skilled typographer--not necessarily in the hands of any randomly selected compositor or randomly selected tech writer--serif faces and sans serif faces, printed on paper, can be equally readable. (On a monitor, serif faces should be used with care.)

The decision to use a serif or sans serif face for body text should be based on factors other than readability. Social convention is a good starting point, varying by country. Connotative nuances are another factor--I probably wouldn't set a thermodynamics text in Bembo.

If you feel a text set in sans serif would automatically make you uncomfortable as a reader, it is possible you have never encountered a skillfully designed book with sans serif text. That does not mean they don't exist.

Dick


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RE: Fonts used in print: From: JB Foster

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