Change those defaults! - “Default lies not in our stars, but in our design applications” – okay, that’s not exactly what Shakespeare wrote. But knowing what your application’s defaults are – and how to change them – can save time and improve the quality of your work. Read on to learn which QuarkXPress and InDesign defaults to tweak, and which to leave alone.
Captions (Part 1 of 2) - Even when a picture is worth a thousand words, most of the time it’s likely to have a caption anyway. Not quite body text, not quite display text, captions require careful handling to guarantee the best results.
Captions Part 2 - The key to setting effective, legible captions is using the right tool for the right job: namely, caption fonts. These specially-designed fonts have been optimized for use at small sizes.
Decorated Fonts - When your everyday sans and serifs won’t do, consider a decorated font. These highly specific, illustrative typefaces can help create exactly the mood you want your project to convey.
Designing For Seniors - When did all the type get so small? Like it or not, as we get older our eyes start to have design opinions of their own. Follow these guidelines for setting type that audiences of all ages will read with pleasure.
Email Etiquette - Proper email etiquette means a lot more than saying please and thank you. Follow these tips on everything from fonts to attachments, and you’ll be sure your message arrives intact and readable.
Headlines - A powerfully designed headline can grab your readers’ attention and draw them in. Don’t squander these golden opportunities to communicate; instead, master the art of creating eye-catching, high-contrast headlines that refuse to be ignored.
Scary Fonts - The Halloween season offers a spookily good excuse to explore the world of scary fonts, but the terror needn’t end there. From media packaging to promotional items, whenever horror, mystery, fear and suspense need to be evoked, scary fonts can sneak up behind your audience and say “boo!”
Seasonal Fonts - Holiday cards, party invitations, one-of-a-kind gifts, thank-you notes – the holiday season provides countless opportunities to do personalized graphic projects. Seasonally-themed image fonts will help put you and your designs in a festive mood.
Thinking Big - With today’s digital font technology, it’s easy to make small letters big and big letters small – but should you? In Part I of a two-part discussion of font sizing, learn when and when not to use text faces at display sizes, along with some tips for getting the most – and best – out of your fonts.
Thinking Small – Like Alice in Wonderland, type can be made to grow big or small depending on our whim. In Part II of a two-part article on font sizing, Ilene Strizver discusses when – and when not – to set display fonts at small sizes.
Type On A Curve - Sometimes you want your type to get straight to the point, but other times it’s nice to take a few turns along the way. Try these tips for for setting type along a curved baseline while keeping it readable and evenly spaced.
Typography for Children - Setting type for children isn’t necessarily kid’s play. Making text inviting and accessible for new readers takes a little knowledge and a lot of common sense.
Typographic Hierarchy -When you have a lot of information to communicate, don’t be afraid to play favorites. Learn how to use type to create a hierarchy of information – your readers will thank you for letting them know what’s most important.
Valentine Fonts - Dust off the hearts and Cupids – Valentine’s Day approaches, and nothing says “I love you” like a custom-designed valentine. Rarely is a designer’s work met with such a warm and appreciative welcome, so make the most of it! Here’s a roundup of typefaces and image collections that will help Cupid’s arrow hit its target.