Style

rway218 · May 06, 2015, 09:14:26 PM

In a download PDF as opposed to a hard copy:

Best Font?
Single or multiple(2-3) column?
12 point (larger or smaller)?
Single or double spaced?

I'm not asking to get industry standard, I want to know what you like best.

For me:
Dejavu San
Two column
11 point
Double spaced

That gets me good size and readability, but not to some... and I know is not standard.

Your turn

Juisarian · June 15, 2015, 07:17:26 AM

Is this for a PDF version of a printed book or a PDF-only product? Because lately I've been thinking the best option might be to optimise for on-screen display, i.e. landscape, three or four columns, readable at 1366x768 with one page filling the whole screen.

If you're expecting people to print it I recommend single-spaced with a smaller font, maximum 9 point. Fewer pages = better experience.

Battle Mad Ronin · June 15, 2015, 09:13:06 AM

Speaking from basic 'Word' terms, I like bigger letters with easily readable fonts. Classic 'Times New Roman' or similar serif fonts, size at least 10, better with 11. Two columns, three are too many as the lines get so short it's annoying to read. Spaces 1,5 or slightly smaller.

AsenRG · June 15, 2015, 07:48:44 PM

Quote from: Battle Mad Ronin;836557Speaking from basic 'Word' terms, I like bigger letters with easily readable fonts. Classic 'Times New Roman' or similar serif fonts, size at least 10, better with 11. Two columns, three are too many as the lines get so short it's annoying to read. Spaces 1,5 or slightly smaller.

This, except I prefer space 1,5 and not bigger nor smaller. The two columns also make it easier to read on a smartphone, since I can just center on one of the columns while I'm reading it, thus getting less letters on my limited screen:).
Of course, I also prefer having a text-only version of the text, for similar reasons, with Tenra Bansho Zero deserving to be the model for industry-wide standard on that account;).

BillDowns · June 17, 2015, 01:07:18 PM

For my two cents - don't use multiple columns. It's too much of a pain in the ass to read one, scroll back up and read the next. Makes no sense.

I read pdfs all day as part of my job, and multi-column documents are the pits!

flyingmice · June 17, 2015, 04:30:30 PM

Only the clinically insane value my opinion on such matters! :O

-clash

Battle Mad Ronin · June 18, 2015, 01:48:59 AM

Quote from: BillDowns;836969For my two cents - don't use multiple columns. It's too much of a pain in the ass to read one, scroll back up and read the next. Makes no sense.

I read pdfs all day as part of my job, and multi-column documents are the pits!

That's a good point - going back over some of my own PDFs I see that this is great advice.

Spinachcat · June 19, 2015, 06:52:52 PM

Could you crazy kids link to examples you like or dislike?

That would help!

AsenRG · June 20, 2015, 05:03:10 AM

Quote from: BillDowns;836969For my two cents - don't use multiple columns. It's too much of a pain in the ass to read one, scroll back up and read the next. Makes no sense.

I read pdfs all day as part of my job, and multi-column documents are the pits!

That ceases to be true if you're reading on a mobile device, though.

Juisarian · June 20, 2015, 07:07:23 AM

Quote from: AsenRG;837345That ceases to be true if you're reading on a mobile device, though.

Exactly, it's a very different medium. Screen size is a critical factor, I wouldn't recommend multiple columns on a phone-sized screen.

In my day job I write PDFs that are intended to be printed. I use 9 point with default MS Word spacing, it looks fine. Headings are the same typeface but larger and a different colour. I reckon sans serif would suit contemporary or futuristic settings/content and serif for ye olden days.

BillDowns · June 26, 2015, 12:53:53 PM

I am over 60, and my eyes are bad. 9 Point is too small. 10 point is really too small most of the time, too.

Just keep those things in mind. And, personally, I am not going to try and read a pdf on a phone anyway. Tablet, yes; phone, no.