Best typeface for small text

[Timothy J. McGowan]

Is there a best font face to use when printing at small sizes? As a Windows user, all I know is that I'm looking at using a font size of 7 or 8, with a reduced line height.

What's the best way to pack the most text on a page and keep it readable?

I'm creating a compressed transcript, putting four pages of double-spaced text on a page, and I'm wondering whether I can improve on my program's output.

Thanks,
-- Tim

[iamback]

If print output is what you need, look at printer drivers. There are special printer drivers that will scale normal pages to put 2, 4 or even more pages onto one on output. Given a decent printer you end up with text that is still just about legible. Then look at normal fonts (at normal sizes) that work best when a page is scaled like this.

[donmcc]

You want something with a large x-height. Almost anything with ITC before the name qualifies in this area. Look into any of those faces to see if there is anything that works for you.

[John Spragens]

Might help to use something designed for printing at small sizes -- for example, in a phone directory. Bell Centennial is one that floats to the top of a search. It's available from several publishers.
http://www.myfonts.com/search/taghonebook/fonts/

[longlivemedia]

Caslon maybe. But just try to explore. Trial and error, that is. It depends on you really.

[ktinkel]

Originally Posted by Timothy J. McGowan

Is there a best font face to use when printing at small sizes? As a Windows user, all I know is that I'm looking at using a font size of 7 or 8, with a reduced line height.

What's the best way to pack the most text on a page and keep it readable?

I'm creating a compressed transcript, putting four pages of double-spaced text on a page, and I'm wondering whether I can improve on my program's output.

Thanks,
-- Tim

Hi, Tim.

Can you tell us why you want to be so economical of space? Generally speaking, small type squeezed without vertical space is a formula for making your text hard to read — no matter what face you use.

Type size — the number you see in the menu — is less important than the visual image. The only real measure of readability is on the page (or screen).

If readability is the objective, type should be 10 or 12 point or even larger. Avoid narrow (condensed or compressed) letters. Leave space between lines (an additional 20% of the type size, or more). Use a reasonable length (line width) — usually 12 to 14 words (6 characters or spaces) per line. Avoid justification (even lines) — leave them ragged.

If readability is not the objective, what is?

Tell us more.

[Hugh Wyn Griffith]

Hi Tim,

Nice to see you asking the experts in another wonderful place .... <s>

[Kelvyn]

I'd have a look at Roboto which was developed as part of Google's Android 4 system, it is designed to be easily readable in a small format.
http://phandroid.com/2012/03/11/liki...puter-as-well/

[Robin Springall]

The Meta family is very good at squashing more text into small spaces, but it's damn expensive.