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Letter Spacing When Using Changeable Sign

By 18th September 2024fresh news

Letter Spacing when using Changeable Sign

The correct Letter Spacing When Using a Changeable Sign  is critical for readibility because capital letters can sometimes be harder to read. This is due to their uniform height and lack of ascenders and descenders (the parts of letters that extend above or below the x-height in lowercase letters). Below are key points to focus on, specifically for letter spacing (kerning) and word spacing:

1. Letter Spacing when using Changeable Sign

Increase letter spacing (tracking): Since capital letters are generally blockier and more uniform in shape than lowercase letters, the default spacing between them can feel cramped, especially for some fonts. Slightly increasing the letter spacing will prevent letters from appearing crowded together and will improve overall legibility. This helps distinguish each letter clearly, especially in words with letters that have similar shapes like “H” and “E”.

Suggested approach: Add about 10–15% more space than you would for mixed-case text. For example, if your font’s default kerning is 1 unit, increasing it to 1.1–1.15 units may improve readability without the text looking too spaced out.

Avoid excessive spacing: While some extra spacing improves legibility, too much space can have the opposite effect, making the letters look disjointed and harder to follow as a word rather than as individual characters.

2. Word Spacing

Increase word spacing proportionally: Since capital letters are wider than lowercase letters, the spaces between words should also be adjusted to reflect this. If words are too close together, it becomes difficult for the reader to distinguish where one word ends and the next begins. A slight increase in word spacing ensures better readability and avoids a blocky or crowded appearance.

Suggested approach: Word spacing should be increased slightly more than letter spacing to create a clear visual separation between words. For example, if the typical word spacing is 1 unit, consider increasing it to 1.2–1.5 units.

Maintain consistency with your letter spacing when using changeable sign: It’s important that the word spacing remains consistent across the entire letterboard. Uneven word spacing can disrupt the reading flow and make the text appear disorganized.

3. Font Choice

Readerboards use our own font named Lighthouse. This is a monospaced font. This means every letter has exactly the same width, which is beneficial for changeable letterboards. However, this is not always necessary for readability—just ensure that the font chosen is balanced and has good default spacing.

4. Size and Layout Considerations

Ensure that the letter size is large enough for the distance from which people will be reading the board. The larger the letters, the less critical fine-tuning of letter and word spacing becomes, but it’s still important to make sure they don’t feel too tight or too loose.

Horizontal alignment: If the letterboard allows it, consider centering the text horizontally for easier readability, especially in environments like stores or public spaces.

5. Example Settings for Optimal Readability

Letter Spacing: Slightly expanded (e.g., +10% tracking)

Word Spacing: More expanded than letter spacing (e.g., +20–30% over default word spacing).

By focusing on adequate letter spacing and slightly increased word spacing, your letterboard will have the necessary clarity and visual appeal for optimal readability.

Want to learn more about the art of Typograpghy? More reading here