Large Print Guidelines
Large Print is a format that is used by people with a range of print disabilities including older Australians with diminished vision, individuals with various forms of sight loss and people with learning or literacy difficulties.
Large Print can be easily developed in tandem with a standard print document and can retain all the features, colours and aesthetics of the standard print version.
Font size
Large print font size should be at least 18 point.
Bolding, underlining and italics
Bolding and underlining should be used to highlight specific sections in the text such as headings, quotations or other parts which need differentiating. Italics should not be used in any circumstances, as this distorts the typeface and makes the information difficult to read.
Font type
A typeface without serifs is the most readable. Sans serif fonts include Arial, and Swiss.
Line spacing
At least 1.25 spaces should be left between lines of print.
Headings
Headings and sub-headings should be larger and bolder than regular large print text. Once again bolding or underlining can be used, but not italics.
Justification
Paragraphs in large print should be block style and use 2.5 cm margins. The left margin should be justified and the right hand margin should not be justified. There should be no indentations to delineate paragraphs.
Columns and divided words
Avoid columns and divided words.
Paper stock and size
Large print should appear black on white, ivory, cream or yellow paper with a dull finish to reduce glare. The documents should be formatted to standard paper sizes, preferably A4.
Graphics
Large Print should not be used over a background design or other graphical material. Large print users should have access to graphics that are not only enlarged, but maintain the same contrast, clarity and colour as those prepared for the standard publication.
Large print materials that are highly graphical in nature, such as maps, graphs and charts should also adhere to type size, font and other large print guidelines. When colour is not possible, high-quality, black, line drawings are preferred over gray scale.
Contrast
Text should be printed with the highest possible contrast. There is good evidence that for many older and partially sighted readers, light (white or yellow) letters on a dark (black) background are more readable than dark letters on a light background.
However, the traditional dark text on light background may be aesthetically preferable and more cost effective. Either way, creating a dynamic contrast is the important issue. Try your proposed colours on Vision Australia’s colour contrast analyser.
Contact the Print Accessibility Solutions Team
Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania
Tricia Cooney
346 Macaulay Rd (cnr Stubbs St)
Kensington, VIC 3031
Phone: 03 8378 1252 or 1300 84 74 66
Email: tricia.cooney@visionaustralia.org
New South Wales, Queensland, ACT and NT
Yvonne Diab
4 Mitchell Street
Enfield, NSW 2136
Phone: 02 9334 3556 or 1300 84 74 66
Email: yvonne.diab@visionaustralia.org
This page last updated: 08 December 2009