[Sigia-l] re: width limits for a body of text

[Duich McKay]

> I am constantly asked by my clients to extend the width of a body of text.
> Although I realize this is to the disadvantage of the reader, I don't have
> any solid arguments for keeping the lines short. So I'm researching this
> matter today by searching relevant websites for info.
> 
> Are there any rules I can use when laying out text?

Graphic designers were told that lines between 55 and 65 characters per line
were the most easily scanned. The never-happened art of line spacing also
had a big influence on the scannability of a block of text.

When designing websites I constantly struggle between the wish to define the
"measure" (column width) of a central column containing text and the desire
to let the use define the size of their browser window and website. When
taking the second approach (combo resizing I think Microsoft called it) the
central column is the one you lose control of.

The Guardian website (http://www.guardian.co.uk/)  is the most popular
newspaper website in the UK yet has a ridiculously narrow text column
measure.

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Duich McKay
http://www.duich.com
+44 (0)141 332 5707
+44 (0)7958 744984