The smallest font. Smallest font Easy to read letters

What is the minimum font size?
Are the letters of the Russian alphabet still recognized?

13px:
9px: A fly landed on the jam, and that’s the whole poem.
6px: A fly landed on the jam, and that’s the whole poem.
5px: A fly landed on the jam, and that’s the whole poem.

Words typed in small print can be guessed by their simple letters: U, O, T...

Let's take a closer look at the five-pixel font:

So, the first estimate showed that 4 pixels in height is enough to read Russian text with difficulty, but still.
Where does 4 pixels come from? → 3 pixels + leader (1 pixel) for letters such as P, U, L...

Easy to read letters

In order for the letters to be read without any questions, you need to space adjacent strokes from each other by at least one pixel. Using the letters E (3 horizontal strokes) and Ш (4 vertical strokes) we determine the minimum height and width:

Microfonts use translucency to save size, or change the classic letter shapes:

The translucent stroke of the letter E allowed us to reduce its height by 1 pixel (it can be reduced by 2). But now we will do without these chips (for the purity of the experiment), however, we will have to neglect the stroke of the letter Ш (this is the widest letter).

We get the minimum letter size: 5x5 pixels. Let's draw a test alphabet:

The letters can be drawn in different ways, but it is obvious that the 5x5 size can be kept within, and at the same time there is even freedom to stylize the font.

On the Spectrum (the computer from my childhood), the letters fit into an 8x8 square (their actual size was 6x6, so as not to stick together). Dozens of unique fonts have been created in this small format. Oh, nostalgia 😃

By the way, another trick: capital letters instead of lowercase ones (and vice versa). For example, lowercase d less than capital. I had to use lowercase in the font I just drew. th: otherwise the top “bird” wouldn’t fit.

A bit of information theory

There are 33 letters in total in the Russian alphabet, but writing also requires, at a minimum, numbers and punctuation marks. For example, in a 2x3 rectangle you can fit 2 6 = 64 different characters, and this number is enough to convey our set of letters, numbers and signs. These fictitious symbols will be completely different from Russian letters:

By the way, a 5x5 pixel canvas allows you to create 33,554,432 different symbols.

Redundancy of language

In pursuit of micro-size, you can completely abandon complex letters (or depict them in an exaggerated manner). The Russian language is great and powerful, and also quite redundant: words with loss of symbols are determined based on the context.

Those who have used the MS Word word processor at least a couple of times in their lives probably know where in this program you can change the font size. This is a small window in the “Home” tab, located in the “Font” tool group. The drop-down list in this window provides a list of standard values from smallest to largest - choose any.

The problem is that not all users know how to increase the font in Word beyond the default 72 units, or how to make it smaller than the standard 8, or how to set any arbitrary value. In fact, this is quite simple to do, which we will discuss below.

Changing font size to non-standard values

1. Select the text whose size you want to make larger than the standard 72 units using the mouse.

Note: If you are just planning to enter text, just click where you want it to be.

2. On the quick access panel in the tab "Home" in the tools group "Font", in the window located next to the name of the font, where its numerical value is indicated, click with the mouse.

3. Highlight a preset value and delete it by pressing "BackSpace" or "Delete".

4. Enter the desired font size and click "ENTER", not forgetting that the text still has to somehow fit on the page.

Lesson: How to change page format in Word

5. The font size will be changed according to the values you specified.

In exactly the same way, you can change the font size downward, that is, less than the standard 8. In addition, you can similarly set arbitrary values that differ from the standard steps.

Changing font size step by step

It is not always possible to immediately understand what exact font size is needed. If you don’t know this either, you can try changing the font size step by step.

1. Select a piece of text whose size you want to resize.

2. In the tools group "Font"(tab "Home") press the button with capital letter A(to the right of the size window) to increase the size or a button with a smaller letter A to reduce it.

3. The font size will change with each click of the button.

Note: Using the buttons to change the font size step by step allows you to increase or decrease the font only by standard values (steps), but not in order. And yet, in this way you can make the size larger than the standard 72 or smaller than 8 units.

You can learn more about what else you can do with fonts in Word and how to change them in our article.

Lesson: How to change the font in Word

As you can see, increasing or decreasing the font in Word above or below the standard values is quite simple. We wish you success in further mastering all the intricacies of this program.

We are glad that we were able to help you solve the problem.

Ask your question in the comments, describing the essence of the problem in detail. Our specialists will try to answer as quickly as possible.

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Despite the rapid development information technologies and the emergence of various gadgets associated with them, the main assistants for students during exams are still the good old cheat sheets, or as the students themselves jokingly call them “spurs.” These small, finely written strips of paper have stood the test of time and are still used by many students during exam periods.

How can they help? modern technologies- so this is in the process of preparing cheat sheets. Typewritten text typed in the Word editor will allow you to obtain the maximum density of information per unit of sheet area, while previously you had to write spurs by hand in small handwriting.

Let's take a step-by-step look at one of the possible options drawing up spurs in the Word text editor, tools, functions and settings used for this.

As mentioned above, in the process of creating cheat sheets, it is necessary to use the maximum area of paper possible way. This means that one A4 sheet should include several columns of text information, which will then be cut into appropriate strips. Therefore, the first thing you need to start with is to set the general formatting of the page and divide the sheet into several columns.
Set the left and right margins on the sheet of paper to be equal to 0.5-1.0 cm. They must be made equal in size so that during double-sided printing the columns do not shift, and the sheet of paper after drawing up the spur can be cut without affecting the text itself.
To do this, go to the tab Page layout and click on the arrow in the lower right corner in the settings group Page settings.
setting page parameters In the window that opens, set the values for the top, bottom, left and right margins and click the button OK to apply the settings.

setting page parameters You cannot leave a document completely without margins, since the boundaries of the text may go beyond the printable area of the printer and as a result you will either end up with cropped text, or you will have to change the formatting of an already created cheat sheet.

It is possible that when setting the margins to the same size, the printer itself will shift the text to one side by several millimeters during printing. In this case, you will need to adjust the left and right margins. For example, if during printing due to the characteristics of the printer the text is shifted to the left, then in the text editor in the page settings you need to increase the left margin and decrease the right one.

It is advisable to carry out a test print with the selected fields on your printer in order to select their optimal value and not waste time subsequently editing finished spurs.
Divide the page into columns. Here you need to proceed from the value of the width that you want to get in the finished cheat sheets. For example, if you need a cheat sheet width of 5 cm, then you need to divide an A4 sheet with the settings specified above into four equal columns.
The breakdown into columns is done as follows. While in the same settings group Page layout click on the button Columns and select the last item in the drop-down menu Other speakers.
setting the number of columns per sheet In the window that opens, set in line Number of columns value 4, check the box Delimiter, as a result of which horizontal lines will appear on your sheet, along which it will be convenient for you to cut the sheet later. Next, check that the checkbox is checked columns of the same size and reduce the gap between the columns to 0.2 cm. Press the button OK to apply the settings.

setting up columns in a document
Check that there are no additional paddings inside the columns. To do this, in the menu group home click on the triangle in the lower right corner in the settings group Paragraph and check the left and right padding values. They should be set to a value equal to 0 cm. Set the line spacing equal to the size of the font used. We recommend focusing on values of 6-7 pt.
checking indents in a document
The minimum font size available for selection in Word is 8 points. To use a smaller font, select the font size value and delete it by pressing the key Delete or Backspace on the keyboard and enter the value you need. The optimal font size will be 5-7 pt. Please note that you can enter fractional values separated by commas. For example: 5.5, 6.5 and so on.
Type the desired text or paste it, partial or full copying if it is stored in in electronic format. For it is recommended to use compact well readable fonts. For example, Times New Roman. An example of an extremely unsuccessful font that is very stretched horizontally is Courier New.
To save space, it is also advisable to use various abbreviations, such as those used when taking notes in lectures. For example, the word “state” can be halved to “state”, “management” can be reduced to “manual”, “formula” to “f-la”, “function” to “f-ya” and so on. Use search and replace in the text to replace all occurrences of abbreviated words.
You can highlight various key points in the text with colored markers or felt-tip pens. If you are the happy owner of a color laser printer, then this operation is very easy to do in Word itself by highlighting sections of text with color.
highlighting
Print the typed sheet using duplex printing and carefully cut the sheets along the vertical dividing lines.
Now all that remains is to fold the spurs like an accordion or cut them into separate cards, depending on what is more convenient for you and choose the place where you will store them during the exam.

Thus, modern technologies can be successfully used to create small spurs. We will leave questions of the ethics of using the tricks discussed in the article for personal consideration by everyone. Let us only note that it has always been believed that even simple compilation of cheat sheets is already useful if they are compiled with one’s own hand. You may never have to use them. After all, in the process of creating them, you at least repeat the information and remember it.

Another important factor is that the presence of spurs allows many examinees to reduce psychological stress before the exam, which in itself increases the chances of passing it successfully.

When using the Word program to design their documents, users do not even realize that they can do much more using this program than the various settings offered in the menu. The same is true with fonts. When choosing a font size, many users have a question about how to make the font in Word larger than 72 or how to make the font in Word smaller than 8, because these are the values as the maximum and minimum font size values that are specified in the settings.

In fact, making a large font in Word or making a small font in Word is as easy as typing the text itself. The font size in Word is not limited to the specified sizes from 8 to 72, and to make the font in Word smaller than 8 or larger than 72, you just need to enter the required value yourself.

If you wish, you can even make the default font in Word exactly the way you need. To do this, go to the “Font” settings on the “Home” tab, configure all the parameters and click the “Default” button. Now, when creating new documents in Word, the font you select will be installed by default.

Also articles on the website chajnikam.ru related to the Word program:
How to open a ruler in Word?
How to make a red line in Word?

Hyphenation in WordHow to create a table in Word?

Inexpressive notes, eye-killing footnotes, instructions that can only be read with a magnifying glass, and even books from the series “What would you like for that kind of money” - all this is him, our hero. Some people are sad to put up with the inevitable, but for a professional, small font is a completely solvable typographic task, although not a pleasant one. The ability to cope with it is a sign of the designer’s literacy and professionalism.

The expression “fine print” itself is conditional, which is why it is put in quotation marks. Technically size(size) is not a characteristic of a font, but from a design point of view, each font still has an optimal size range in which it is better readable. Favorite font size Octave eighth, this is clear from its name (distinction deteriorates in font sizes less than 6-7, and in font sizes more than 12 the typeface seems rough). Majority text headset ( Baltika, Literary, St. Petersburg, Baskerville and Caslon) in all incarnations, Stamp Garamon and other versions close to the original source Garamona, of course, Times Designed for standard book size 10-12. A unique text font Academic has an ornate design and a very small point, as a result of which in 12 point it looks like Times at 10, and at 10 and less it turns into unreadable beads. No less original Sentor(in Cyrillic version Venetian 301) also prefers a slightly enlarged size, because this is a true Venetian serif, quite accurately reproducing the features of the font of Nikolai Jenson, created in 1470, and then books were typed in a larger font.

Loved by everyone in last years ITC Oficina perfect in 10 point and sharp (especially ITC Oficina Serif) loses readability when reduced to 7-8. But there is no point in reducing Oficina and this saves up to a third of text space.

ITC Charter — rare example universal font. It can withstand heavy reduction and looks good in large font sizes, even in headlines.

Designed based on fonts typewriters group led by By courier looks best in 12 point, and some are perfectly readable in 10 and even smaller. But there were practically no such typewriters in our country; 12-point font was considered the standard, and publishing houses only accepted manuscripts printed in this way. And here is the result: the eye has become accustomed to a certain size of typewritten font. It seems that now nothing prevents you from printing Yatran any size (at least 13.5), but the reader, especially the older generation, will definitely feel discomfort

All handwritten It is better to print fonts (calligraphic and free-form) in accordance with the size of handwritten letters (14-18 points). In small fonts it will seem that the text was written by some kind of gnome, and it will be difficult to read.

How to choose

Not all fonts, even text ones, can be reduced to 6-7, especially smaller fonts. But if alone ( Academic, Bodoni) protest categorically, then others ( Bannikovskaya, ITC Garamon) are tolerated relatively well. The problem is solved by simply flipping through the catalog and selecting. Experienced layout designers also know some useful principles. Intuitively, a candidate for the role of fine print must have certain characteristics.

A report by British typographer Mark Barrett at the ATypI conference in Helsinki in September 2005 provides the following rules for constructing or selecting a typeface for use in small point:

The font design should be simple, clear and familiar. Revolutionary forms and design delights are inappropriate.
The font should have increased lowercase characters and wide proportions.
Contrast is relatively weak, approximately 3/4.
Open forms are preferable to closed ones.
There are either no serifs at all, or they should be “strengthened”, giving them a simple and even rough shape. The font should not have any details that disappear when reduced.

ITC Garamon, for example, differs from the canonical versions Garamona greatly altered proportions: it has a very large point and smaller, curly stems. Not the best font for book layout, but successfully used for technical purposes in 6-7 point size. Has a large asshole and fairly wide proportions Bitstream Cooper, A ITC Oficina Sans, although it is a grotesque with a large point, does not allow for strong reduction, since it is very narrow. Decreases are even worse tolerated ITC Oficina Serif, this is also prevented by massive bar serifs. Sentor ( Venetian 301) makes it difficult to work in a small font; another font is too light, solemn (by the way, its bold and bold styles are better suited for regular book typesetting than normal). It is unacceptable to use the new style serif in small size. Thin horizontal elements Dido and any versions Bodoni They will literally begin to disappear, the font will become not only illegible, but downright indistinguishable. Against this background, the typeface unexpectedly looks advantageous in small font Bannikovskaya. Created in 1946-51. designer Galina Bannikova, an elegant book font copes with a complex task due to a precisely calibrated, piercing design.

The famous French designer, ATypI President Jean-François Porchez, who has extensive experience in designing advanced typefaces for newspapers and magazines, actually highlights next rule building such a headset. Along with the usual rows of styles, differing in saturation and inclination, a kind of axis of display is created, along which the styles change according to their purpose and preferred font size. On this axis you can place fonts for headings, subheadings, standard text and options for very small typing: output data, captions for photographs, editorial apologies and corrections, etc. Prominence consists of several characteristics of the style, as elementary (contrast, proportions) , and more complex ( characteristics drawing).

In Fig. 4 it can be seen that in the days of metal typesetting the type design of different sizes actually varied according to the above rules. This once again confirms that the new is just a well-forgotten old.

In Western European typography, based on Latin alphabet, the question is deeply developed. Advanced headsets(and only they can bring the author commercial success) not only contain text and heading styles, but often include options specifically for typing text in small size. Which Latin fonts are best suited for this purpose? According to Barrett: Amplitude(developer Font Bureau), Bell Centennial(Bitstream) Format(Berthold) Frutiger(Linotype), Georgia(Microsoft) Griffith Gothic(Font Bureau) Gulliver(Gerard Unger) Gulliver CPA(Gerard Unger) Neue Helvetica(Linotype), Lucida Fax(Bigelow & Holmes), Lucida Sans(Bigelow and Holmes), Nimrod(Monotype), Poynter Agate(Font Bureau) Swift(Gerard Unger) Verdana(Microsoft) Vesta(Gerard Unger) Weidemann(ITC).

It's a pity that most of the list is fonts that do not have adequate Cyrillic versions. One of the pleasant exceptions Verdana. Created by order of Microsoft by one of the best type designers of our time, Matthew Carter, the OpenType format font was designed to support many languages, including Russian. Cyrillic fonts, even those developed by the best foreign authors, often turn out to be not very successful and are alien to the Russian graphic tradition, but the drawing Verdans does not cause any complaints even among our most biased connoisseurs of type art. Wide proportions Verdans typical for American text fonts. And Microsoft fonts were developed as screen fonts: this alone, in fact, the solution to the same problem guarantees good legibility in a small font. Everything said in equally also refers to Matthew Carter's second font for Microsoft, Georgia; Although Verdana as the grotesque is still preferable. Because the Verdana and Georgia is present in almost any computer running Windows, you can assume that the simplest solution for small text is always at your fingertips.

Now let's try to compose full list the Cyrillic languages we need fonts. Like all design recommendations, this opinion is not debatable but, hopefully, not useless. Having looked through the font catalogs and keeping the formulated criteria in mind, we can recommend the following Cyrillic typefaces and styles for typing in small font.

Point size 8, 7: Bannikovskaya, Verdana, Georgia, ITC Charter, Bitstream Cooper, ITC Garamon, Octave, Swift, Times(different versions), Melior(in the Cyrillic version of Zapf Elliptical 711), Bell Gothic, ITC Franklin Gothic(except for narrow styles), FreeSet, Accident-Grotesk(Gothic 725), Syntax(Humanist 531), Meta, Pragmatics(except for extra-light and extra-bold styles), Janus.

Point size 6, 5: Bannikovskaya, Verdana, Georgia, ITC Charter, ITC Garamon, Octave, Swift, Melior, FreeSet, Syntax, Meta, Pragmatics(except for extra-light and extra-bold styles).

Point size 4, 3: Verdana, FreeSet normal, FreeSet bold, Pragmatics medium, Pragmatics bold.

Rules for good typography

Let us note a pattern: from a developed font family for small text, as a rule, it is advisable to choose bold and bold styles. It is better not to use highlighting text fragments in bold font in small font size. It is advisable to either do without any display at all, or use italics, italics or capitals.

In addition to font selection, text set in small font sizes is enhanced by the simple rules of good typography. Small font does not forgive mistakes: incorrect leading, inappropriately narrow or wide columns, not to mention such unoriginal design techniques as red text on a black background or embedded textures. If in regular text this simply impairs readability, then in small text you won’t be able to read it at all. But the main thing, on the advice of Master Barrett, where you should always start working on the layout of small text, is to try to convince the customer to give you at least a little more space. Really, wouldn’t it be better to present the information briefly in exchange for a guarantee that the entire text will actually be read?

However, sometimes the customer deliberately resorts to small print because he is not interested in the text being read. It is easy to guess which clauses of agreements, contracts, all kinds of obligations and guarantees this applies to. This requirement is not difficult to fulfill; it is enough to know the rules for layout of small text and do the opposite. Probably, tobacco companies would really like the notorious inscription “The Ministry of Health warns”, made in light, narrow Bodoni in font size no more than 7. Fortunately, here the law guards not only health, but also the rules of good typography.

Literature:

Jean François Porchez: Fonts Don't Come From Nothing. - Report at the ATypI-2005 conference.
Mark Barratt: No Room! No Room! — Report at the ATypI-2005 conference.