The 10 Golden Rules of Typography.
This is a basic informative resource for those interested in typography. It's just text.
Before you can break the rules of typography, as I so often
- in fact every time - do, you must first know what they are.
If you want to sticky this resource, go ahead.
Rule 1:
//Never apply more than three typefaces in a document!
Simplicity is the key. Too many typefaces in the wrong situation
can be confusing!
Good examples would be a 14pt title, 11pt subheader and 8pt body text.
Rule 2:
//Lay headlines large and at the top of the page:
20, to 26pt sized text is considered the going rate for headline sizes.
Bellow your shit to the masses with these sizes of text.
Rule 3:
//Use none other than 8pt to 11pt text size for body text!
And don't forget your bloody leading!
Examples: 8pt size = 11pt leading | 9pt = 11pt leading | 10pt = 13pt Leading.
Rule 4:
//Remember that a typeface that is not legible is not truly a typeface!
Actually, this only really applies to editorial design when writing articles/documents any other type of design or art
where theviewer has to actively read an article or other text.
In all other cases never forget this golden rule:
Never mistake legibility for communication.
We'll actually come back to this particular subject soon in another post.
Rule 5:
//Remember kerning!
Kerning is designed to space letters slightly farther apart to allow
ease of reading, thus saving time.
Non-kerned typography in large amounts of text is bad typography and strenuous reading.
Rule 6:
//Lay stress discreetly within text!
The wise keep things hidden. But the foolish
over-emphasize.
Rule 7:
//Never use only capitals to large bodies of text.
There's a reason lowercase type has ascenders, bowls and finials. Quick Shape recognition for quicker reading! Use it!
Rule 8:
//Always align letters on a baseline!
Typefaces are designed to exist side by side.
N
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Rule 9
Use flush left and ragged right alignments.
This is an example of flush left
and ragged right alignment
typography at work. And is the
true way to lay out body text!
This is an example of flush right
and ragged left alignment
typography at work. And looks
odd in large amounts!
Rule 10:
//Never make lines too short or too long!
In any given line of text, the maximum amount of characters
should be no more than eighty and no less than forty!
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