iCalamus: Define fonts for book

Define fonts for book

This much is true – a book can't do without fonts. But which font for what? This is very often a big question.

You may have heard already that books should always be typeset with serif fonts. If you can also explain what is a serif font, then you have some knowledge of the topic. (Apart from that, the rule to always use serif fonts which we mentioned just now, isn't true in general.)

We would now like to introduce different terms to the fonts topic. Then we can talk about fonts much easier later.

Body fonts: We talk about and use body fonts when long text (mass text) has to be typeset. First of all, these fonts should be characterized by being very readable in small font sizes (between 8 pt and 12 pt). Furthermore, they should not be too striking, as the reader's eyes should not be disturbed from their reading by salient features of the font.
Accentuating fonts: These fonts can be used for highlighting single words or headlines (accentuating), for separating citations from the main body text, or for marking foreign words, etc. Accentuating fonts may be more eye-catching than body fonts by all means. In our context, typesetting a book, it is important to use an accentuating font which harmonizes with the body font. Hence it should offer a clear contrast to the body font.
Non-serif fonts: Letters in these fonts are drawn with simple lines and don't show any serifs (small bulges, dashes or other emphases) at their line ends. Known representatives of this kind of font are Helvetica, Triumvirate, Avant Garde, Grotesk, Franklin Gothic, Futura, Kabel, Arial.
Serif fonts: These fonts come along with the already mentioned serifs. In small font sizes it looks as if the single letters are aligned like in handwritten text. This may ease reading. Known representatives of serif fonts are Times, Garamond, Bembo, Bookman, Caslon, Goudy, Korinna, Palatino.

If your principal or editor specifies font faces and font sizes, lounge back and comply with his or her instruction faithfully. If not, you should stop to think about fonts for your book now. Decide if you would like to use a serif or a non-serif font as body font. Consult books which you have read, and which you enjoyed reading. In this context, enjoy means that you may have read the relevant books in one go, and have devoured the content with your eyes without any thoughts about the fonts used. These books have chosen perfect fonts in perfect font sizes.

Main task of fonts in a book is to convey the content.

It is not the task of fonts in a book to upstage and detract vainly from the content. Font face, font size, type area, page format, paper, etc. – all these factors in a book should only serve to convey the content while staying discreetly in the background like a perfect waiter.

The body font should have a good gray tone. This means a full text page should show a smooth gray area without gaps and spots when you have printed it and looked at it the wrong way around in your hands, with outstretched arms. Don't collapse laughing. In fact, this is the best way to judge body fonts. Sometimes you will recognize that the same font shows clear differences in readability when you use different line spacings.

As we don't want to see your being spoilt for choice, we will suggest some fonts for our next tasks on the way to the finished book.

Body font

Please open the Text Style inspector. There you will see at least one text style named Default. Double-click on the style name, and you will see the text style parameters dialog. Please adjust the parameters to use the style name Body 9, the font face Baskerville Regular with 9 pt. Don't use any of the other offered gimmicks.

Body font for accentuation

Now copy the text style in the Text Style inspector by selecting Duplicate Text Style in the action menu, and renaming the copy to Body 9 Italic. The only parameter to change in this text style is to switch the font face from Regular to Italic. That's all!

Headlines

Now create a third text style and name it Chapter 1 please. Choose the font face Lucida Grande Bold and set the font size to 13 pt.

Make two copies of this third text style, and adjust both of the copies such that they are named Chapter 1.1 and Chapter 1.1.1. Change their font size from 13 pt to 11 pt and 9 pt respectively.

Now you have prepared the basic fonts as text styles in your book: for body text (Body 9), for accentuations in the body text (Body 9 Italic), as well as for three different chapter hierarchy levels (Chapter 1, Chapter 1.1 and Chapter 1.1.1). If your book uses more than three chapter hierarchy levels (chapter, subchapter, subsubchapter, subsubsubchapter ...), add another text style Chapter 1.1.1.1, and consider how to design this text style.

Hint: Another remark on body fonts for accentuation: In these days, it has become very popular (maybe because of the Internet) to highlight single words in text by fattening them. In the long text of a book, bold or even semi-bold text styles will disturb the gray tone of a book page. Therefore it is much more esthetic to accentuate single words in italics, even if you might think at first sight that it isn't weighty enough. Trust your reader's eyes. He/she who reads your book page by page, hour by hour, will recognize each single italic word and – without being disturbed in reading – notice the higher importance of these words. More isn't more here. Use accentuations sparingly and discreetly. Renounce triple exclamation marks, underlining, color and other affectations which would only emphasize your own uncertainty in dealing with your own text. Let your text speak for itself. Your readers will value it.