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Page Design
One rule to remember when designing documents is to keep it sim-
ple. Avoid cluttering your documents with unnecessary font changes,
which can detract from the document.
Consider your reader first. Select the typeface that is best for your
particular document, and consider the meaning of your words. What
are you trying to communicate? A strong, no-nonsense typeface, like
Helvetica, proclaims its message loud and clear. For this reason,
sans serif type is often used for signs, as in NO PARKING. However,
Helvetica can be overwhelming, so a font like Times or New Century
Schoolbook may suit your words better.
The skillful use of typeface in page design can also increase readabil-
ity. Good newspapers are an example of the use of text placement for
maximum readability. The typeface chosen for text and headlines var-
ies in size, and text is contained in columns two to three inches wide.
Thus, the eye does not have to travel far, and readers do not lose
their place.
Other aspects of design such as word spacing (justified or unjusti-
fied), line spacing, the spacing of letters within words, and uppercase
and lowercase letters all affect the legibility of your page.
While page design has no set rules, there are many books available
on page layout and design as well as on typography to guide you in
making effective choices. Some of these references are listed in the
following section.
References
For more information on PostScript printing, graphic design, and
desktop publishing, refer to the following publications:
n
Adobe Systems, Inc. PostScript Language Program Design .
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1988. ISBN 0-201-14396-8.
Professional Printing
Page Design
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