The Effect of Font Size on Readability![]() Outdoor art designers use the scale on the right to determine the actual height of the lettering on a billboard. The most important information in the copy should be the largest to ensure it is read first. How Distance Influences Read![]() The image below shows how letter sizes will appear from 500 feet away and simulates a billboard on a freeway. Which sizes can you read best? ![]() The image below shows how letter sizes will appear from 300 feet away and simulates a billboard on a highway. Surface street billboards allow the smallest font size. Common Letter Size Pitfalls in Outdoor Design![]() The Magazine Ad: Print advertising can utilize the “white space rule” which allows open space for visual effect. The same style of ad becomes a challenge to read at billboard scale. ![]() Excessive Copy: The temptation to include too much information forces the use of small letter sizes resulting in unreadable text and a confusing message. The outdoor rule of thumb is “Seven Words or Less”. |