[nycdunz]

i was wondering whats the smallest you can go for doing fine print like on documents like disclaimers and warranties. the lowest you can go before it starts being unreadable. Does it matter if its in PS or Illustrator? will a size 4 point font in PS and the same one in Illustrator both print out the same? since fonts are basically vectors in PS.

[Tomchu]

Wouldn't that depend on the kind of printer that you have? A 600 DPI inkjet isn't going to look nearly as sharp as a 600 DPI pro laser printer.

[art_director]

I may be mistaken but are you wondering about having something printed rather than using your own equipment?

The smallest readable size is dependent upon a few factors:

1. What's the type face? Sans serif faces will hold up better at smaller sizes than serif fonts. In a nutshell, the thicks and thins of the characters fall apart faster than a mono stroke.

2. How is it being used? If it's black type on white you can go smaller than if you're knocking it out of a 4/c photo / illustration. Because printing tolerances are far from perfect, having one plate slightly out of register can render such copy unreadable.

3. What color is the type? For obvious reason some colors will give you better contrast. Better contrast = better readability.

4. What stock are you printing on? Newsprint allows the ink to bleed which impacts the size of the type. If you go too small and run on newsprint (ie. newpaper) characters can plug up. Also, newpaper pressmen aren't slowing down to look after your ad and ensure quality.

5. Who's printing the piece? If you can control the variables you can go smaller. If you're sending it off you get what you get in most cases.

Hope that helps.

[iREZ]

art director is on point again, but id like to chime in and suggest for you to take into consideration your audience and how well they would read small print and what their threshold is.

as a general rule of thumb...unless i HAVE to, i never go with anything under 5 points for normal and 6 points for reversed type when it comes to print work.

[nycdunz]

i see, well im sending my files off to a press, offset printing, all my stuff goes on gang runs, one thing that annoys me is when i design business cards, theres hardly any room for anything, so i like to use font size 6-7, is this reasonable? I was never a fan of large fonts.

Also i love to use them ultrathin, thin variations of fonts, and like artdirector said, if the registration doesnt line up properly on all 4 plates, it will render it unreadable, especially on thin 1px strokes or very thin fonts... so thats true? we usually print on 80lb coated stock i believe...

[iomatic]

what art_director said, but generally, 6 pt. is the smallest I'd ever go.

BIG body copy (10pts+) — even on tabloid spreads— on the other hand… oof, clients never let that one go…

[phobos]

You can go as small as 5pt. But for easier reading stick to 6.

[th3ph17]

Originally Posted by nycdunz 

Also i love to use them ultrathin, thin variations of fonts, and like artdirector said, if the registration doesnt line up properly on all 4 plates, it will render it unreadable, especially on thin 1px strokes or very thin fonts... so thats true?

sure is. good reason to use a spot color or only one of the CMYK process inks for text that small, that way there is nothing to be off registration--always a good idea for large bodies of text.

and, as much as i also love tiny type, it should matter more what your client needs. I did a lot of design work for a rehabilitation hospital a few years ago, and the smallest allowed was 12 point Times Roman. Legal issues with having readable fonts.

[Thorzdad]

Originally Posted by nycdunz 

i see, well im sending my files off to a press, offset printing, all my stuff goes on gang runs, one thing that annoys me is when i design business cards, theres hardly any room for anything, so i like to use font size 6-7, is this reasonable? I was never a fan of large fonts.

Also i love to use them ultrathin, thin variations of fonts, and like artdirector said, if the registration doesnt line up properly on all 4 plates, it will render it unreadable, especially on thin 1px strokes or very thin fonts... so thats true? we usually print on 80lb coated stock i believe...

I'd say you are really pushing the readability envelope with those specs...especially on a business card. I'm not sure what you consider a "large font" but 8 or 9 point isn't large.

As far as tiny, thin fonts are concerned, it's simply a matter of the physical means of reproduction and understanding the offset process. If the small, thin text is a solid black (or a solid match color), there should be no problem printing. However, if the text is intended to be built in process, you are asking for trouble.
6-point, hairline text built CMYK? If I were the pressman, I'd put a contract out on you.