By Keegan Harmon

• 12 points=1/6 inch • 36 points=1/2 inch• 72 points=1 inch

( Words in all caps form rectangles: most of the shapes end up looking the same)

( Each word made up of lower case letters have a unique shape, which aids reading)

Readability: Whether an extended amount of text is easy read.

Legibility: How a short burst of text is instantly recognizable

• SERIF VS. SAN SERIF

• CAPS VS LOWERCASE

• LETTERSPACING + WORDSPACING

• LINE LENGTH +JUSTIFICATION

• LINE SPACING

• RESERV TYPE + LIGHT OR HEAVY WEIGHTS

• MODERATION

• CLEAR COMMON LANGUAGE

• CLARITY OF LETTER FORMS

• X HEIGHT

• CAPS AND LOWER CASE

• WEIGHT PROPORTION

OLD STYLE SERIFS ARE EASILY READ

• MODERATION OF FEATURES

• DISTINCTIVE FEATURES

• VISIBILITY

Leading is very important to legibility. Increase amounts of line spacing increase reading 5 to 8 percent.All type faces are more legible with moderate leading than without any at all. Bold type faces need more leading than light faces. Faces with small “x” heights need less leading 14/14

• Williams, Robin. The Non-Designer’s Design Book. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 1994.