TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Website readability From:"Stephen D. Murphy" <sdmurphy -at- SHEPARD-PATTERSON -dot- COM> Date:Tue, 18 Aug 1998 10:27:45 -0400
Doug, I was just reading through the electronic publishing guide that
Adobe publishes (and distributes on many of its CD-ROMs as a PDF). They
provide several suggestions:
* Use a sans-serif font for on-screen display (contrary to the
popular wisdom for printed material)
* Add some extra leading (line-spacing) to on-screen text (not
sure you can do much with that on the web, unless you're using PDFs)
* Make the text larger than you would for printed material
Those are the ones I remember... as for color, I think it depends on
what you have in the background. I personally like dark teals and
browns, but that is just my preference.
As for "long-scrolling pages," I think they are bad news. They take a
long time to download and are a pain to read under any circumstances.
Try to "chunk" your information into smaller pages, if possible.
Good luck!
Steve Murphy
Senior Technical Writer
Shepard-Patterson & Associates
(703) 412-5072
sdmurphy -at- shepard-patterson -dot- com http://www.shepard-patterson.com
-------------------------------------------
Adobe Certified Expert - FrameMaker
murphus -at- idsonline -dot- com http://www.murphus.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Douglas Max [SMTP:dmax -at- BELLATLANTIC -dot- NET]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 1998 9:34 AM
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> Subject: Website readability
>
> Does anyone know the answer to this question:
>
> "What's the best color, font (serif, or sans-serif), size for text to
> be
> easily readable on the web?" We have long scrolling pages on our
> website and I want it to be easy on our students.
>
> My webmaster thinks that a navy blue "softens" things up, but I wonder
> if black isn't better because of its greater contrast. Also, I think
> that Times Roman is easier to read than Ariel. I welcome your
> opinions
> and/or reference to any research done on this.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Doug Max
> --
>
> LR Communication Systems, Inc. http://www.LRcom.com
> 139 Dogwood Lane
> Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0264
> USA
>
> Training in business writing and presentation skills. Seminars,
> distance
> learning/correspondence programs with personal feedback. Online
> options.
> Editing services. Founded in 1969.
>
> E-mail for business: mail -at- LRcom -dot- com
> personal: dmax -at- bellatlantic -dot- net
>
> voice @ Work (908) 464-1231
> fax (908) 464-1350
>
> ======================================================================
> =====
> Send commands to listserv -at- listserv -dot- okstate -dot- edu (e.g., SIGNOFF
> TECHWR-L)
> Check out topic summaries at
>http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/topics.htm
>
>
