How to choose the best font for your design
When it comes to selecting the perfect font, you have think about a variety of things including compatibility, load time and design purpose.
Today, we have several tips to help you select and use the best web font for your design project.
1. Start with the Fundamentals.
Serif vs. sans serif.
There are other type categories but in terms of web design, almost every project is based in one of these options. (And sans serif typefaces are the dominant choice.)
Kerning, tracking and leading.
The amount of space surrounding text can be just as important as the typeface. Kerning is the space between letter pairs; while tracking is the space between group dos characters. Leading is the amount of space between lines of text (aka line height).
Readability.
When working with text for the web the number of characters per line can be important. Think about the size of the screen where text will appear and design it to be easy to read.
Most applicable to large blocks of text but think about how text will align on the screen – left, right or center – and whether blocks of text will have ragged edges or be fully justified.
Hyphenation.
Just don’t do it. Hyphens make a mess of text on screen.
Alignment and justification.
Most applicable to large blocks of text but think about how text will align on the screen – left, right or center – and whether blocks of text will have ragged edges or be fully justified.
Number of typefaces.
As with any project, no more than three typefaces … unless you have a really good reason.
Remember contrast.
It does not matter what typeface you select if there is not enough contrast between text and the background for it to be readable. Elements that contribute to contrast include size, stroke weight, color and space.
2. Consider Compatibility. One of the things that makes web typography difficult is that browsers are always changing and getting updates. You’ll want to select a typeface that is compatible with modern web interfaces used on both desktop and mobile devices.
3. Use a Service. Aside from Google (probably the most popular option), there are a variety of other choices. While Google Fonts is a free service, pricing tiers for the others vary from free option levels to more expensive kits.
Adobe Typekit
Fonts.com
Webtype
Fontspring
Remember contrast. It does not matter what typeface you select if there is not enough contrast between text and the background for it to be readable.
4. Be Considerate of Tone and Message. It is vital to ensure that the typeface you select matches the tone and messaging of the project you are working on. Here are some questions to help you map it out:
Is the project formal or casual?
Should text be bold or lighter?
Is the typeface for large text or small?
How will it pair with color or images?
Does the mood of lettering match the words being read?
5. Think About Load Times. If a font does not load quickly, look for another option. Users have no patience for slow websites. No matter how awesome the typeface, it needs to load at near — lightning speed to be effective.
When selecting a typeface test it for speed. (Most type services will help you with this, including Google.) Use a limited number of typefaces.
6. Be Choosy. You do not have to use Helvetica, Arial or Droid Sans to create web typography. Take your time and be choosy when selecting a font palette.
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