PDF: Type Decisions

To keep consistent, my PDF will follow the same design-style as the product itself. So, it'll be minimal, use text and white-space to achieve a clean, sensible look, which in-turn should make it effortless to read.

Typography

Typography is an art. I have only just begun scratching the surface, but there are hundreds of fantastic articles written by professionals, such as this one, which was published in Smashing Magazine. It has helped me create a successful coupling of two, famous fonts which I shall use in my PDF. They can be seen in the image below:

Why does this work so effortlessly? Several factors are at play here. First, when using different fonts from the same typeface, you are likely going to have a high degree of visual compatibility without even working for it. Second, we’ve chosen the tried-and-true combinations of using a classic neutral heading typeface and a classic neutral body typeface. (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/04/best-practices-of-combining-typefaces/)

As shown in the image above, my headings will be sans-serif and my body a serif. This is a well-known practice and can be read more about in from the references in the Further Reference section, below.

Arrangement

According to my research, between 73 and 90 characters per line is a popular choice among designers. My type will be arranged into columns with this practice in mind.

Further Reference

• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/08/20/typographic-design-survey-best-practices-from-the-best-blogs/
• http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/12/14/what-font-should-i-use-five-principles-for-choosing-and-using-typefaces/