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Typography - EduqasLegibility

Typography is the art and design of text 鈥 learn how different elements of text are used in a variety of contexts, and how these can be applied in the GCSE Art & Design course.

Part of Art and DesignGraphics

Legibility

Illegible handwriting on lined paper

If text is legible, it means that it is clear enough to read. When it is not readable it is called illegible.

Legibility with colour and contrast

The word legibility written in yellow against black background
Image caption,
Bright yellow on top of the dark black creates both a colour, and a tonal, contrast.

Using contrasting colours against another colour is a good way to achieve a striking design.

Image showing the legibility of different colours. The word legibility is written against a grey background in the colours yellow grey blue and green

Adjusting the colour of the background and the font, can alter how legible the text is.

The word legible in purple and yellow block letters against a yellow background

The colour inside part of the letter is the same as the background colour and this causes the eye confusion.

The word legible in purple and yellow block letters against a blue background

A slight adjustment to the background colour can make all the different, making the somewhat illegible font appear more legible.

Legibility with font

The word legible in red uppercase calligraphy letters against a grey background. The word is not easy to read.

The choice of typeface can play a large part in the legibility of a word. In this example, the colour choice is good because the red stands out very well against the grey background. However, this typeface, which is a script style containing swashes and flourishes, is illegible because the letters are upper case.

The word legible in red lowercase calligraphy lettering against a grey background. The word is easy to read.

When lowercase letters are used, although the 鈥楲鈥 at the start of the word is still not the clearest because it is overly decorative, it is legible as a whole.

The word legible in dark blue letters with a black outline against a light blue background

Use of a sans-serif font makes the word very legible. The deep blue colour on top of the paler turquoise background is a combination that is pleasing to the eye. The two colours in the lettering combine well.

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