Typophile - type size for a magazine - Comments

Koop, John & Pattyfab,

jazzhustler — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:28:12 -0800

Koop, John & Pattyfab, thanks for your input. I’ve settled on 9pts for the main body text for now, with 10.5pt leading (the automatic setting for 9pt). I’ve gone for a sans serif font for now, and whilst I agree with most of the points made both for and against, I’ve had to stick with sans serif on the clients insistance. I may get shot down in flames now, but stuck with Neo Sans. It’s quite modern looking, but I think it works fine in the context of the magazine. Maybe I’ll change this over time (really would like to use Paperback, by House Industries) but we’ll see.

Thanks again

oh, and if you like Jazz Funk my new album’s out now worldwide:

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Simon

A novel in Optima I would

pattyfab — Mon, 4 Feb 2008 06:58:09 -0800

A novel in Optima I would not read, just as a matter of principal.

Simon — Depends on your

johndberry — Mon, 4 Feb 2008 01:27:21 -0800

Simon —

Depends on your audience. Middle-aged readers tend to like larger type, because for most of us it’s getting harder to read the really small stuff; but younger readers may like it small (though not tiny). The art director for a New York book publisher I spoke with recently pointed out that, if she used a small type size in a book aimed at a young demographic, the younger readers would perceive it as a book for old people, and not buy it.

And although it’s a good rule of thumb that serif faces are more often best for extended text, there are more important things than whether a typeface has serifs or not. I just got through reading a novel, quite happily, that was typeset in Optima. (It all depends on the spacing, of course. Sans serifs, especially light weights, are always getting tracked too tight in text; that kills readability.

Mário Feliciano designed his FTF Stella as a text face for a surf magazine. I don’t know how closely the readers of “Surf Portugal” read the text, but he said that when he tried using a serif typeface, they complained. Stella is a humanist sans; that’s the direction to go, if you’re looking for sans serifs typefaces that might actually work in extended text.

In general, I think sans serifs in text need narrower columns (unjustified) than serif faces – but that of course all depends on the individual face. And on everything else about how it’s spaced.

I have been art directing

koop — Mon, 4 Feb 2008 00:43:17 -0800

I have been art directing publications for over 4 years now and every
magazine uses 7.5 typeface. All were Serif body copy.
It depends on your page size, I am guessing that you are using a standard size so
that should be fine. As for serif or sans, well it depends on your audience
Sans has a more modern feel, where serif is more a matter of fact.
Helvetica Nue is a clean family to use that does not draw attention to it’s self.
If you want a font with a touch of flavour try a Humanist face such as Aaux Pro.
With all that make sure you have the leading set at 9 pt (if 7.5 is what you go with).

Hey everyone, I really do

jazzhustler — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 10:10:59 -0800

Hey everyone, I really do appreciate all the input, and yes I do need to get a new printer! It really is at the early stages right now, so I’m not overly concerned, especially in light of the fact that I know there are gonna be umpteen changes way before it’s even considered for print (I’ve worked for this client before), but I promise it won’t get to the stage where it’s “...too far down the road”.

Cheers again.

Simon.

>>Nick - holding it closer

Renaissance Man — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:14:50 -0800

>>Nick - holding it closer is becoming the problem! I am starting to need to hold the book farther and farther away.

Glasses are not just for drinking. They also make some for reading.
:-)

I’ll just chime in and say

Miss Tiffany — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:01:36 -0800

I’ll just chime in and say I agree that you need to test the typeface on the printed page. Even if you only shape some text into the desired column width with several different point sizes and leading adjustments. Even for a graphic design magazine 6.5 pt (especially 5.5 pt) is far too small if the text is meant to be read.

Many typefaces do not look the same on the monitor as they do on the printed page. The big boys would even suggest printing it on the same press and same paper intended for use. This isn’t always possible, of course, but do what you can to get it as close to final. If not you could be surprised, for instance, at how light the text might print once it is on that gloss text weight paper at 3600 dpi compared to a quick print out on a 1200 dpi printer using offset paper. But, at least you’ll have an idea.

Actually I recommend you

pattyfab — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 07:28:08 -0800

Actually I recommend you print it out BEFORE you are too far down the road. As a designer who works in old media (print) I cannot emphasize enough how very important it is to see the printed page. For example, to view my work at true actual size, I need to view it at 137%. Viewing it at 100% is extremely misleading. But... 137% looks huge on the monitor. It can get very confusing. I learned the hard way, when my printer was on the fritz, that you really need to look at printouts - trimmed down. There are a couple of books I’d love to redo with the type a little smaller. You need to invest in a printer that will work with your Mac.

You are getting this advice from a lot of people; it would behoove you to heed it.

You really should firm up

Don McCahill — Fri, 1 Feb 2008 06:44:01 -0800

You really should firm up the font before you decide on the size. (And I’m not crazy about Neo Sans as a text font. It seems more suited to headings.)

Some fonts can be set smaller if they have a large x-height. For instance ITC Garamond can be several point sizes smaller than Adobe Garamond due to the radically different x-heights. (There will also be leading issues.)

And if you can’t print it locally, save it as a PDF and take that file somewhere that you can make a printout.

Greg - like I said

jazzhustler — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:22:28 -0800

Greg - like I said previously, I was predicting what the client would say about Serif fonts looking old fashioned, not me. I do think your definition of ’Modern’ is a bit off the wall, but hey, I came here for advice, not an argument, so thank you. Quincunx, yes I will be printing out, but not until I’m further down the road with it, like I said previously.

thanks anyway.

Simon.

Nick - holding it closer is

pattyfab — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:41:18 -0800

Nick - holding it closer is becoming the problem! I am starting to need to hold the book farther and farther away.

Luckily there are a lot of

Quincunx — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:26:12 -0800

Luckily there are a lot of new, fresh serifs. Check this thread (direct link to a post) for some ideas.

Also you really need to print it out too. If you can’t use your own printer, make a pdf and go to the nearest printshop or something.

Old fashioned? The earliest

Greg Stanton — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:07:32 -0800

Old fashioned? The earliest Greek inscriptions have a form that could be called sans serif, and it can be argued that the earliest letter forms in recorded history are sans serif.

“Modern” by definition is that which is functional, legible, and suits the task for which it is intended. A serif type is easier to read for long stretches. Publishers are not tied to this convention because it is traditional, but because it is functional (i.e. modern).

If the magazine in question is intended to be browsed, not read, a sans serif type would work. If the articles are long, however, a modernist would choose a more functional and reader-friendly serif type.

Thanks Greg, I’ll bear the

jazzhustler — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:38:56 -0800

Thanks Greg, I’ll bear the serif point in mind. I know the client’s going to think serif fonts look ’old fashioned’ (that’s my prediction of what he’ll say, not what I think!), but I’ll quote your take on it, and try and go with that. Having said that I’m looking at Mac Format magazine, and it’s all sans.

Simon.

Here’s a tip Patty —

Nick Shinn — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 14:35:53 -0800

Here’s a tip Patty — hold it closer. That makes the type bigger :-)

type size for a magazine

jazzhustler — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:16:03 -0800

Hi all. I’m currently putting a magazine together for someone, and on one particular article that spreads out over three pages there’s a lot of text to get in (not to mention pics). Anyway, this got me to thinking; is there a recognized size for type in magazine articles? Currently I have the type in the aforementioned article at 6.5pts, but seeing it in the screen its hard to really tell if 6.5pts is a tad too small for magazine print. Before anyone suggests printing it out I have to say I have a Dell printer that wont work with my Macs, so that’s a non starter. Anyone with experience care to help me?

Thanks in advance

Simon (Mr.Gone)