The following should be taken into account when choosing
the font to be used on a Web application:
1- The font type must be installed on the target
computers.
2- The font size must suit the target audience and the
most used resolution.
3- Choose a font style (serif or sans serif) and do not
mix them.
The fonts usually installed on any computer are Arial,
Verdana and Times New Roman.
The most used font styles are Serif and Sans-Serif.
Sans-Serifs are plain and simple fonts without embellishing lines added to the
basic form of a character.
| Serif fonts |
Sans Serif
fonts |
 |
 |
There are studies that compare the legibility of fonts on
screens and recommend Sans-Serif fonts
(http://www.humanfactors.com/downloads/feb02.asp) because of each letter's
height and width, spacing between letters and the plain and simple style.
Legibility (1="None" and
6="Total")
Reading Time in secs (2 text pages)
Percentage chosen as first or second preference
choice
(You may see the complete study at http://psychology.wichita.edu/surl/usabilitynews/3S/font.htm)
Mixing styles is not recommended, as it makes reading
slower. (Source: Boyarski, D., Neuwirth, C., Forlizzi, J., and Regli, S.H.
(1998). A study of fonts designed for screen display, CHI 98 Conference
Proceedings, 87-94.)
The font size should fit the target audience. If the
application or Web site will be used mainly by adults over 60, the recommended
size is 12 point or larger (size 3 in HTML). The size found in most applications
or Web sites is 10 point (size 2 in HTML). Lists, menus or isolated texts use
8-point fonts (this size is not recommended for text blocks).
The font size also depends on the screen resolution most
commonly used by the target audience. A given font size can be read easily in an
800x600 resolution, while it can be too small in 1024x768. A 10-point font is
appropriate for both resolutions.
When using the Themes Editor of GeneXus 8.0, you should
take into account that if a 10-point font is chosen, the editor interprets
9.75pt. There is no need for correction since this size is also acceptable, and
the difference is barely noticeable.
If you want a certain size in the editor, you should enter
the value in the font field (e.g.: Verdana, 10pt)
In conclusion, this is what I recommend using:
- Font: Verdana for text and titles, bold font for titles.
-Size: 10-point font (or similar)