Type Workshop 03

Following on from the previous session, the third type workshop today was also quite an eye-opener; not to mention exciting due to the fact there was an actual block of text to work with.

The main issues addressed this time were were all related to how a paragraph(s) of text reads:

Readability through:

Serif or Sans Serif
Upper case or Lower Case
Justification and Alignment
Maximum and Minimum word count per line of text
Maximum and minimum character count per line of text

The first exercise was designed to make a clear example of this. Filling a column with a passage of type with the aims of making it as readable as possible, then revising it and representing it a further three times. The only rules were that the allocated typeface remained the same. Weight, kerning and leading etc could all be altered at will. I admittedly cheated by trying to make my first attempt particularly difficult to read. I felt the effects of altering different characteristics would then become more apparent this way.

01. Started with upper case, bold type. Fairly big point size for body copy. 12pt if my memory serves correct. Reduced line feed and fully justified.

02. Same as before, dropped the point size a little and increases the leading for a bigger line feed.

03. Dropped the type to lower case and a lower point size that was easier on the eye. Increased the leading again slightly and maintained justification.

04. Dropped the point size even further, I believe it was down to 8.5pt. Leading was increased again, by this point however I think it was beginning to become less readable again.

Exercise two dealt with spanning text across columns; in this instance one, two and one half of a column.
Each example was aimed to further illustrate how point size, leading and alignment can alter how text reads. The most educational benefit of this task for me was understanding how justified text alters the pace of reading through inconsistent word spacing... Something that you would think makes large chunks of text harder to read. This technique is actually used within novels, which was a confusing aspect of this lesson.

Further things of importance that I learnt:

-A heading is usually 20% superior / inferior to the text size.

-Using upper case type is a brilliant way to make people not read something as it is less readable.

-It's not good if the reader has to keep moving their head, this means the type is probably too small for the width and the reader is therefore having to hold the paper/document too close.

-Large bodies of text are more readable with a serifed typeface. This is due to the fact that it creates a horizontal reading line; the serifs themselves 'interrupt' the ascenders and descenders. Something that is subtle, but effective.

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