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M
mhossey
Inspiring
October 10, 2012
Question

Smallest text size you should use for print?

  • October 10, 2012
  • 3 replies
  • 39163 views

I had some business cards I designed printed for a gentleman and everything was good minus the text size, too small to read, I think it was around 4 pt for the smallest section of text.

From some experienced designers in the print arena, what is the smallest size text you should use on things like this? Is there a standard, does it vary from piece to piece etc....any additional info is good

I am designing a 4x4 card, so this piece is a little bigger than a standard business card. Right now 9 pt is the smallest text on my card

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3 replies

E
emil emil
Inspiring
October 10, 2012

mhossey wrote:

...what is the smallest size text you should use on things like this? Is there a standard, does it vary from piece to piece etc....any additional info is good ...

There is no standard, the text should be with a size that will allow the target audience to read it effectively but you are also limited to the space available. Also, this is not your case, but sometimes on products some information that is required by law is reluctantly put by the clients and they want it with the smallest size possible so it is not prominent - the so called "fine text". You should have a printer that can print at least 600 dpi, doesn't have to be color, make samples and show to your client.  I'm over middle age now and need reading glasses to read fine text so for me at least 10 pts please for the unaided eye

M
mhosseyAuthor
Inspiring
October 10, 2012

Thanks everyone, I feel like 10 is going to be the magic pt size for me here. Good info on tracking, x height, serifs, and lower case letters being more legible. Mucho appreciated

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 10, 2012

For my part you are welcome, Michael.

Presumably the aim is to get them there.

 

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 10, 2012

Michael,

Whichever sizes looks nice together, for a case like this I believe you should settle for something that may be read with old eyes. 9pt may be a bit on the low side. I should think 10 would be better, you might even consider 11 or 12.

Edit: Hi Steve.

Steve Fairbairn
Steve Fairbairn
Inspiring
October 10, 2012

Are your eyes failing you, Jacob? :-)

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 10, 2012

    I am still enjoying the Compact Edition of the OED with much of the good stuff at 2pt, Steve.

    I do have some cheap +1 glasses, and I have this strange experience: looking at the Triniton monitor and switching between glasses and no glasses, the screen switches between distinctly concave and distinctly convex (like an ordinary old CRT); it settles after a while.

    Steve Fairbairn
    Steve Fairbairn
    Inspiring
    October 10, 2012

    I reckon 5 or 6 point would be a safe size for small type on a business card.

    Much depends on the font used, the spacing (tracking) of the letters and the colour they are printed in.

    Serif fonts are often more legible than sans serif and a font with a large x-height will usually be more legible than one with a small one.

    Small lettering frequently becomes more legible merely by increasing the tracking.

    On your examples there are a lot of upper case (capital) letters. You will find lower case more legible because it allows you to see the shape of whole words.

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