Text Material and Typography 53
in kind. Size, tonal value, and spacing can indicate importance, while color and form
indicate differences in kind. Orientation can be used to indicate direction.
Larger
type and bolder type indicate importance, form, for example, roman or italic, and
hue indicate differences such as roads and rivers (Figure 3.15 and Plate 3.1). Textual
hierarchy is also used for titles and subtitles (see also Chapter 7).
Legibility and Perceptibility
Most studies of legibility have been concerned
with type set for text reading, not
map reading. Perceptibility or discernability, that is, the
speed at which letters or
words can
be perceived and recognized, is more relevant
when choosing type for
maps because the letters are not set in a block as they are for text. Instead, they may
be letter-spaced (spread out), curved, or interrupted by other features. They may be
displayed on shaded or colored backgrounds, and the background may even change
in the middle of a word. When maps are viewed on a computer monitor the resolution
of the monitor also affects the readability of the text. This presents a considerable
challenge to the cartographer and, unfortunately, one that has no easy solutions.
Harmony
It is common to use more than one typeface on a map. However, usually only two
faces, one serif and one sans serif (with the variations of bold and italic) work best
and the styles used must harmonize with one another and with the subject of the
map. It is generally felt that sans serif forms may be combined satisfactorily with serif
forms, but that two serif forms usually do not work well with one another. Using too
many
styles creates a cluttered, messy appearance (Figure 3.16).
It is also accepted that different type styles have different personalities. Some are
considered dignified, some are masculine, some are feminine, some are considered
powerful, and some are weak. Obviously, this stylization can be carried to extremes,
but one should at least keep in mind the possible connotations of a typeface because
Old Style
Modern
Sans serif