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Stack OverflowMost versatile font for printing and screen?
[+1] [2] systempuntoout
[2010-07-14 09:34:50]
[ css printing fonts ]
[ https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3244901/most-versatile-font-for-printing-and-screen ]

I have to choose a font for a web application that produces a printable view of some text (long text, no colors, white background).

Example here [1].

Users will read this printable view in these possible ways:

  1. From pc\Ereader (after saving it in html)
  2. From pc\Ereader (after "printing" it in Pdf, mac users will natively do it)
  3. From paper

Temporarily i have chosen the web workhorse Georgia font for the screen reading, and although my css has a @media print directive, i have not yet redefined any different print font.
In few words, i don't know if i should differentiate the printing font from the one for screen; changing the @media print font will affect also the 2.pc\Ereader users that like to read their Pdf on screen.

So i'm searching for a font that should satisfy these requirements:
1. Should have a good compromise in term of readibility\legibility for printing and screen reading
2 (bonus). Should handle strange unicode characters (Georgia is missing something here [2])

Any hints?
Any better approach?

(1) Wingdings? I think it's equally legible on screen or in print, and it definitely handles strange characters. - Borealid
(1) @systempuntoout: oh no! It was a joke! Forgive me! - Borealid
@Borealid yep, i've tried it with firebugs and looks orrible :))) - systempuntoout
@Borealid: I though April, 1st was already over? ;-) - sleske
Do you mind explaining the downvote? thanks - systempuntoout
(1) @systempuntoout - Yeah that irks me too. For the record, I +1ed it! - James Wiseman
[+5] [2010-07-14 10:10:02] cdutson [ACCEPTED]

Generally when reading long passages of text, you want to use a serif font. It leads the eyes easier, which makes reading that little bit less stressful on your eyes/brain. Personally I like Garamond, Goudy, and some of the Century fonts.

If you need to use a sans-serif font, might I suggest Univers? it's like the cooler older brother of Helvetica.

If you can ONLY use web-safe fonts, you're probably best going with Times or Helvetica. (Or you could do some font-importing)

Also make sure to take care with your line-height (leading, in ye olde printing terms) as text that is too spaced or too cramped makes for harder reading. Generally sans-serif fonts require more leading to help guide the eye along.


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[+3] [2010-07-14 09:41:35] James Wiseman

Have you tried Helvetica?

There is a bit of a cult following for this, more info at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetica_(film)

Particularly interesting is the 'Useage' section on the first link

The font is widely used for print and screen purposes across the world, so might be worth a try.


I find Helvetica tiring for long passages of text. Awesome for short passages of text though. It is very resilient under a wide array of output resolutions. - sarnold
@sarnold what do you think about Georgia? - systempuntoout
(1) @systempuntoout, if your example link correctly rendered Georgia in my Firefox, I liked it. - sarnold
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