Question for all you readers....

[banslug]

Have you guys ever noticed that in the back of the book (usually in the back, but sometimes in the front), after the story is all done...there's a page or paragraph dedicated to the TYPE SET. You know...the FONT. It says what set was used for the book, who 'drew' or created the set, etc.

Ever notice that?

And does anybody know WHY? What's the importance to the font or print?

Just curious!

Gayle

 

[spyrosmom]

Yes, I've noticed it, but only in hardback books, not paperbacks. As to why we need to know the typeface and history of it, I have no idea. But I always read the silly thing, and I don't know why.

Nan

 

[banslug]

Yeah, I always read it too, and always think to myself that I'm not really interested, but I can't pass it up!

Gayle

 

[maddiesmum]

That is one of the pages I usually tear out to use the back of it for shopping lists, notes, etc. Ha!

Clare

 

[Afreet]

Hi there;

I've noticed that in lots of books. I think typesetting and selecting fonts is a bit of an art - it really affects the readability of a document, even influences the way you think about what you're reading! So I think it's a way of acknowledging the work that was done selecting a font, (sometimes even creating a new font), and setting the type to print the volume. Just like the cover art, illustrations, maps, and other media in the book, the typesetting deserves its separate acknowledgement!

Lisa

 

[SirenSongWoman]

Hi there;

I've noticed that in lots of books. I think typesetting and selecting fonts is a bit of an art - it really affects the readability of a document, even influences the way you think about what you're reading! So I think it's a way of acknowledging the work that was done selecting a font, (sometimes even creating a new font), and setting the type to print the volume. Just like the cover art, illustrations, maps, and other media in the book, the typesetting deserves its separate acknowledgement!

Lisa

Years ago I worked as a secretary for a department that dealt with public health and we had a meeting with some sort of expert who told us we were writing our pamphlets all wrong. She was adamant that the easiest typefaces to read all featured letters with "tails", like the Times Roman font (THIS typeface doesn't have tails). She said it's proven that fonts with "tails" result in better reading comprehension, which is why such fonts are always used in books, magazines, and newspapers. She also informed us that most Americans read at a fourth-grade level and that our brochures were going way over everyone's heads and would need to be rewritten!

 

[banslug]

Interesting!

Stacey-a 4th grade level? Really? That's just incredible!

Gayle

 

[RapidBreath]

typesetting

is an art. My mother has been a graphic artist for 30 years and has always had high regard for the typesetter. And they are a different person from the artist. I must admit I never noticed the typesetter's credit in a book before.

 

[kathryn]

Years ago I worked as a secretary for a department that dealt with public health and we had a meeting with some sort of expert who told us we were writing our pamphlets all wrong. She was adamant that the easiest typefaces to read all featured letters with "tails", like the Times Roman font (THIS typeface doesn't have tails).

Those would be 'serif' fonts.

I know that the common advice is that serif fonts are easier to reat, but I actually think some san-serif fonts (those without "tails") are easier to read. It also depends on the media and the size somewhat (my web page has verdana in the body---a san-serif font) and a serif font in the headings--some web-page design books I read suggested using serif/san-serif this way, and it seems to work well).

I used to use Comic San Serif a lot. Then went on to Arial. Now I'm into Verdana.

As for why they put this info in books, I don't know.
The fonts were invented by people throughout the years, so maybe it's a hold-over from when they were copyrighted? Or at least when people had to give credit to the inventor? (Just a theory).