Letter sizing matters a great deal. It’s an often overlooked part of creating custom signs, but letter size is one of the most important features to consider when designing a sign. This determines how far a sign can be read. Here are a few important aspects to look at when making a sign.
Font Size – In order to determine the letter size used for your sign you will need to get a general idea of what distance you want your sign viewed at. Generally speaking, for every 3 meters of viewing distance away from your sign, you will want to increase the letter height by about 2-and-a-half centimeters.
Font Color – For greatest visibility of letters, use colors that contrast with the background color of your sign. The general rule of thumb is that you should use a light colored background with a dark letter, and vice versa. A dark background with dark letters is not ideal for visibility purposes. This is especially true for storefront signage such as vinyl lettering and window decals that may be placed on tinted windows.
Font Type – Decorative and script fonts are harder to see when used with smaller font size. If you do include decorative and script fonts on a sign, make sure that the letter height is adjusted to increase visibility. Even with an increased size decorative fonts are simply harder to read than block fonts.
Sign Placement – Letter visibility will be affected by where you place the sign in relation to sidewalks or roadways. Take into consideration the angle of where you are placing the sign and the angle of the the viewer (whether in a car or walking on a sidewalk).
Lighting conditions – Signs put in direct sunlight and well-lit rooms must be adjusted accordingly. Bright colors (yellows, oranges) and pastel colors will be harder to see when light shines directly on them. Use darker colors to increase the visibility of letters in well-lit or bright conditions. Likewise, dark lighting conditions or dark surfaces (like tinted windows) will require lighter colored lettering to improve visibility.
These principles are easy to understand and don’t require any special graphic training. When in doubt, use larger letters with fonts that are easily legible and font colors that contrast from the background color of your sign and/or application surface. Place your sign in a conspicuous location that allows for maximum visibility and make sure that direct light doesn’t affect the quality of the sign. If you have any question on sign design and letter height, you can visist here.
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