Fonts - Fun or Fundamental?

Are you a default font user? Some people always stick with the default. Other people pick a font based on their moods. With the abundance of choices in software and the internet, the options with typefaces are limitless. However, fonts have a purpose. Understanding fonts can be the difference in a good document and a great document. Fonts are generally divided into two categories. Serif and san serif. Within the two categories, some fonts have a font family. This is one typeface with a collection of weights and styles. Using a font family in a layout is a good way to provide consistency and unity.

Serif Fonts
Serif fonts have short strokes at the top and bottom of the letters. From a design standpoint, the strokes are included to help the eye glide across the page without losing the place. Serif types work best for smaller text with a full body. Think of the font in books. Serif fonts are used in textbooks, novels, magazines, letters and lots of other mediums. Serif fonts typically indicate the bulk of the reading. When creating an official document, a serif font with a squared serif tip and pinched, narrow curves indicates professionalism. For an informal letter, a serif font with rounded letter forms gives the page a friendly conitation. Examples of commonly used serif fonts include Times New Roman, Courier New, and Book Antiqua. An example of a font family in serif is Lucinda.

San Serif Fonts
San serif fonts- translated without serif- do not have stroke marks. The absence of stroke marks makes san serif fonts look simple and elegant. Without the serif marks, letters are harder to distinguish from one another, so san serif is a good choice of font for headlines and subheadlines. They are great in a larger type, like a centered title. If the project is a comtemporary sign display, a san serif font will elegantly match the tone of the environment. San serif fonts will tire the eyes more quickly if used in a lengthy document, because the eyes have to work harder to read the text. Common examples: Comic Sans MS, Tahoma, and Microsoft San Serif. An example of a san serif font family is Arial.

A typeface provides the architectural foundation for the work. When completing a layout, the most common mistake is using too many fonts. To avoid this error, choose one or two fonts and work within the font family. Typically, the best layouts use san serif fonts for titles, headlines, and subheads. Different options within the family will provide small differences for visual appeal without overstimulating the eyes and appearing haphazardly chosen. Varying the typeweight and style will add additional dimension to a page. The body of text is usually done in a serif font, which helps the eye stay focused on the article. When creating a layout, there are no hard and fast rules. Play around and try different combinations, but remember, a font is a staple on a page.
Creativity is expected in some areas of a design, and consistency is expected in other areas. Use your fonts wisely.

Choosing a font should not be a random act. Fonts convey the tone of the document, and provide clarity in layouts. The font can make the document appealing for the reader or can be the reason it was never even read.