Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
The Optimal Paragraph
A desirable paragraph setting is one in which a constellation
of variables achieves a harmonic balance. Since extended running text is such an im-
portant consideration for a publication, finding the optimal paragraph is one way to be-
gin developing overall typographic structure. A designer might first make some as-
sumptions about the text typeface, based on his or her sense of its appropriateness from
a conceptual standpoint and in consideration of its visual attributes—the relative height
of the lowercase letters, the general weight of the strokes and any contrast within them,
the height of the ascenders and descenders—and set a text paragraph at an arbitrary
width and arbitrary text size. Judging from this first attempt, a designer might opt to
adjust the size of the text, loosen or tighten its overall spacing, open and close up the
leading, and change the width in successive studies. By comparing the results of these
variations, a designer will be able to determine the most comfortable text setting for ex-
tended reading. At what point is the type size too small—or uncomfortably large? Are
the lines relatively even in length or varying a lot? Is excessive hyphenation occurring,
meaning that the paragraph is too narrow to allow a useful character count? Is the lead-
ing creating too dense a field of text to feel comfortable? During this study, it might
become clear that several options for width and leading are optimal, but a designer will
need to choose one as a standard for the publication. The choice that the designer
makes has implications for the page size, the number of columns of text that might fit
on it, and optimal sizes for other text groupings, such as captions, callouts, introductory
paragraphs, and so on.
