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Subject:Re: Fonts for Online Documentation From:Bob Bench <BoBB -at- SLC -dot- TWC -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 21 Feb 1997 16:22:46 -0700
Susan Brown asked about the best fonts for online documentation.
The average monitor has a resolution of between 70 to 100 dpi. Most
electronic fonts were originally designed for image setters with
resolutions of 1200 to 2400 dpi. Some of the more recent fonts were
designed for 300 dpi laser printers. A few fonts have been designed for
the ultra-low resolution of the typical monitor. Monotype has a set called
enhanced screen quality fonts. Many (perhaps all) of these were
commissioned by Microsoft. These include Arial, Gill Sans, Times New
Roman, Baskerville and several others. I use Arial for body text in web
pages because it looks good at small sizes and low resolutions, and it is
available on every PC that runs windows. The details of serif fonts don't
reproduce as well as sans serif fonts, so I don't use them for body text
in online documents.
Bob Bench
Technical Writer
Northwest Pipeline Corp.
Salt Lake City, Utah
bobb -at- slc -dot- twc -dot- com
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