Self-publishing: Paperback font, font size, and format

[Brian G Turner]

I've been researching what font and font-size to use in POD, and the issue is somewhat bewildering. The short answer - there are many options.

However, the price of POD depends on the number of pages, and the number of pages depends on font and font-size used.

This article at least helps narrow things down a little:
Self-Publishing Basics: How to Pick the Size of your Book

 

[Ray McCarthy]

However, the price of POD depends [mainly] on the number of pages, and the number of pages depends on font and font-size used.

Also the trim size of book and margins dramatically affects number of pages.
More than 6" x 9" is problematic to fit majority of modern cheap bookcases.

CreateSpace explains it and has a tool.

You can reformat your document, allowing suitable gutters and margins to find out number of pages. Print ten or so actual size pages (ensure NOT rescaled to A4 or Letter, but within it!) so people can give an opinion on font. Actual minimum font point size also depends on font used. Some fonts are more readable. Sans serif fonts (like this page or verdona, Arial, Tahoma) may look clean and modern, but actually for large amounts of text are very tiring compared to serif (Times Roman, garamond, century schoolbook, Georgia etc).

 

[HareBrain]

Sans serif fonts (like this page or verdona, Arial, Tahoma) may look clean and modern, but actually for large amounts of text are very tiring compared to serif

Interesting -- I don't think I've heard that before. I assume that's based on studies. What reasons do they give?

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I assume that's based on studies. What reasons do they give?

I forget, it was 15 years ago I read it.
Look at typical fiction paperbacks and see how many are sans?

Probably it's to do with "redundancy". Letters are less distinct [from each other] in sans. Too complex or styles people are unused to are bad. Black Gothic, Old English, italic, insular/celtic styles etc.

We'll not talk about Dymo, Neon, Comic Sans, Playbill/Wild West, ornate script styles etc?

Courier, Lucidia Console and Mono etc are all for typewriters, or primitive text only displays with no kerning, hence wide top and bottom on "i" and skinny "m" and "w"

 

[tinkerdan]

When I did my books I chose the 6 x 9 because of my bloated word count. That worked quite well in giving the bulky book a good feel.
The POD publisher used Garamond through the entire process. Presently I am using Garamond in my drafts although If I were to need to change that I could do so easily. What this does for me is, based on the 6 x 9 format, I can come really close in my own estimate of what the page count will be.

With my POD you can get packages that include hardbound and the 6 x 9 is a direct conversion to the hard copy from the trade paperback and the page count is the same. They fit nicely into my bookshelves--but they really need to be in other people's bookshelves.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Presently I am using Garamond

It's well liked by people that know about these things.
I used to prefer Century Schoolbook, but I've used Garamond for release.
The interesting thing about POD, is that you can change everything (format wise, inc cover image and size) in less than a couple of days. No cost. If it's some minor change*, you can even "digitally proof" for free. I think you need at LEAST one paper proof, esp. if you have not printed anything locally.
Each trim size is a different ISBN, but revisions of book at same trim size and title is same ISBN, so do put a version number on the copyright / author / publisher / print page that also has ISBN.

My theory is to have a "." and increment after dot for purely format / typo changes and before dot for actual revisions of content.

If there is a legal issue and something needs changed, no pulping 20,000 to 100,000 books. You just change it. None are held in stock with POD.

[* If I changed actual content, then I'd want a new paper proof]

 

[tinkerdan]

Here is an interesting article that seems to posit no provable difference other than aesthetics.
Which Are More Legible: Serif or Sans Serif Typefaces? | Alex Poole

Though the first thing I registered was that the article is done in Serifs.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Serif fonts have always been promoted as best for physical reading, and simpler sans-serif fonts as for online reading.

Curiously enough, I've seen Times New Roman specifically warned against for use with POD as looking too old-fashioned. Georgia seems especially recommended.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

Though the first thing I registered was that the article is done in Serifs.

But the most legible of types can be made unreadable if it is set to too wide a measure, or in too large or too small a size for a particular purpose.

Aesthetics and expectation are important?

I think he misunderstands this claim!

Serifs are used to increase spacing between letters and words to aid legibility

At smaller point sizes the kerning is often insufficient for sans with rn looking like m. Compare rn and m in serif? However this is a computer technology implementation issue. Printed books are no longer moveable type and unfortunately kerning may not always be as good as it used to be.

The Times New Roman isn't a great serif font at all. Arial is one of the poorest Sans too. But MS was picking fonts for poor resolution CRTs.
I and l are too similar in most Sans fonts. Ill (arial) vs Ill (Book antigua)?

Indeed, more recent studies have shown that computer users prefer sans serif typefaces for body text online

Because the Display devices are not high enough resolution! Decent Serif rendering needs at least 200 dpi. Few displays till recently were more than 96. More than 133 dpi is rare except on HD phones and "retina" displays. The eInk tends to be about 200dpi, with newer "HD" versions at 300dpi, hence default on eInk readers is Serif.

EDIT:
he actually seems to contradict himself in places.

It's true the quality of the printing (or resolution of display) and legibility and aesthetics of a particular font is more important than Sans or Serif, as he points out. He also points out that familiarity is important. People expect eInk Readers and printed paperback fiction to be in serif.

 

[Lew Rockwell Fan]

As a reader of physical dead tree paperbacks, I must say the thing that most irritates me by far is too small an inner (i.e., spinewards, the right side of left pages and the left side of right pages) margins, forcing me to damage the book in order to read it. There is absolutely no need for symmetry here. Top, bottom, and outer margins don't do much to make the book more readable, but inner margins are important.

 

[Ray McCarthy]

I must say the thing that most irritates me by far is too small an inner (i.e., spinewards, the right side of left pages and the left side of right pages) margins

It's called the "gutter". On POD you specify it. The CreateSpace minimum is quite good. It's some sort of misguided cost saving that some paperbacks have a too small gutter.

A book page shouldn't ever be symmetrical.

 

[Glitch]

Adobe Garamond Pro at 12pt is a popular font for printing.