Clear and Large Print - Sensory Therapy Gardens Fact Sheet

1. Sensory Trust information sheet
Accessible information - clear and large print
Clear and Large print guidelines provide fonts and adjust your font size accordingly.
a standard for maximising the legibility For example,
of printed documents such as leaflets,
The Sensory Trust promotes and supports
brochures, guidebooks and maps. They can
the creation and management of outdoor
also be applied to other forms of written
spaces that can be used and enjoyed by
communication such as letters and forms.
everyone regardless of age or ability
The guidelines were developed by the (12 point Arial)
RNIB based on its own research. As with
all accessible information it is impossible to The Sensory Trust promotes and supports
cater for all users individual needs. Clear the creation and management of outdoor
and Large Print are a good starting point spaces that can be used and enjoyed by
that is widely understood everyone regardless of age or ability
(14 point FoundryFormSansBook)
Clear Print
l Clear Print requires a minimum font size l Develop a house style for the main text
of 12pt Arial of documents that conforms to Clear
Print guidelines
l The font that you use should be clear in
its design, without too many flourishes. l If you use external suppliers develop an
Avoid ‘handwriting’ or ‘fancy’ fonts accessible information brief that includes
directions to conform to Clear Print
l Space between the lines (leading) should
guidelines.
be at least single spacing, preferably
more
l Text should be left aligned. Text that is Large Print
centred or aligned on the right could be
missed Whereas Clear Print is
l Do not hyphenate words at the end of appropriate as a standard for all
lines
printed information Large Print
l Avoid using text on top of images; it is
difficult to read and can be completely is an alternative format and is
missed beneficial for people with low
Producing Clear Print vision.
When designing a document, leaflet or
Large print is defined by the
l
brochure it is important to remember that
not all fonts have letters that are the same RNIB as being 16pt Arial or
size. For example:
bigger. You should not refer
This is 12 point text in Arial to a document as being Large
This is 12 point text in Verdana Print unless it conforms with
This is 12 point text in Franklin Gothic this standard.
If you are using a font other than Arial
compare a paragraph or text in both the
Large print documents should
l

2. also conform to other Clear In brief
Print guidelines concerning 1 Clear Print guidelines should be
adopted as a standard for all
layout, use of fonts and
printed materials
images.
2 Always check your text design
against the same text in
12 point Arial to see how it
Producing Large Print compares for size and clarity
Reading long documents, even
l 3 Include accessible information
guidelines as a part of your
in Large Print can be tiring for organisation’s commitment to
people with low vision. You accessibility
should therefore reduce the 4 As well as font size and style
ensure that your materials
length of the text as much as display good colour and contrast
possible.
l you are promoting a Large
If
Print version of a leaflet or
a brochure ensure that this
is clearly displayed at the
beginning or on front, in text
that conforms to Large Print
standards. The Sensory Trust promotes and
supports the creation and management
Further Reading of outdoor spaces that can be used and
enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age
For more detail on Clear and Large Print
or ability.
See it Right - Making information accessible
for people with sight problems (RNIB, ISBN Visit www.sensorytrust.org.uk
1 85878 704 6) is available from the RNIB or contact:
(www.rnib.org.uk). Sensory Trust, Watering Lane Nursery,
For information about font sizes for Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall PL26
signs and interpretation panels the Sign 6BE
Design Guide, Peter Barker and June Tel: +44 (0)1726 222900
Fraser, JMU and Sign Design Society (ISBN Fax: +44 (0)1726 222901
1 85878 412 3) is also available from the Email: enquiries@sensorytrust.org.uk
RNIB and the Sign Design Society
(www.signdesignsociety.co.uk).
This document has been set in 11.25point
APHont, a font developed by the American
Printing House for the Blind.
www.aph.org/products/aphont.html