LETTERING
A wealth of well-designed and legible typefaces is available in the form
of pressure-sensitive, dry-transfer sheets as well as in computerized
typography. You should therefore spend time on the appropriate
selection and use of fonts rather than attempt to design new ones.
HELVETICA IS A VERY LEGIBLE TYPEFACE.
HELVETICA NARROW
is useful when space is tight.
TIMES IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF A
TYPEFACE WITH SERIFS.
PALATINO has broader proportions
than Times.
Serifs enhance the recognition and readability of letter forms.
Lowercase lettering is particularly appropriate for
bodies of text.
• The most important characteristic of lettering
is leg ibility.
• The character of the typeface we use should be
appropriate to the design being presented and
not detract from the drawings themselves.
• Serifs enhance the recognition and readability
of letter forms. Avoid mixing serif and non serif
typefaces ina single tit le or body of text.
• Lowercase lettering is appropriate if executed
consistently throughout a presentation.
• The differences among lowercase characters
are more distinct, making lowercase lettering
generally easier to read than text composed of
all capitals.
• Determine the range of lettering sizes by
judging thedistance from which the audience
will view the presentat ion. Keep in mind that we
may read different portions of a
presentation-project overviews, diagrams.
details. text, and so on- at different
distances.
• Space letters by optically equa lizing the areas
between the letter forms rather than by
mechanically measuring the distance between
the extremities of each letter.
• Word processing and page layout programs
have m the spacing of letters and lines of
ade
type much easier.
ARCHITECTURAL PRESENTATIONS / 179