Font Selection for On-Screen Video Writing: Recommendations and Best Practices
When it comes to writing on-screen for videos, the choice of font is crucial. Not only does it enhance readability, but it also sets the tone and engagement of your video. This article explores the best font options and guidelines for ensuring your text is clear, engaging, and effective in various video contexts.
The Best Fonts for On-Screen Video Writing
Several factors influence the choice of font for on-screen video writing, including readability, style, and the context of the video. Different fonts cater to various aesthetics and user experience needs. Here are some widely recommended fonts:
Arial: A sans-serif font known for its cleanliness and high readability. It is a safe choice for most video types. Helvetica: Another sans-serif font, known for its modern and professional appearance, suitable for corporate videos. Verdana: Designed for screen readability, it has wider spacing and is easy to read at various sizes. Roboto: A versatile modern sans-serif font that works well for both titles and body text in videos. Open Sans: A friendly and approachable font, suitable for various video types, from educational to promotional. Montserrat: A geometric sans-serif font that adds a contemporary feel, ideal for creative and stylish video content.Recommendations for Effective Font Use
To ensure your on-screen text is clear and engaging, consider the following recommendations:
Contrast and Visibility
Ensure Good Contrast: The text color should have a stark contrast with the background for easy readability. A good rule of thumb is to use black text on a white background or white text on a black background.
Font Size and Scalability
Use a Readable Font Size: Choose a font size that is large enough to be readable on all devices, from mobile phones to large screens. This ensures that viewers can read the text without squinting or straining their eyes.
Font Weight and Emphasis
Consider Using Bold for Emphasis: Use bold or semi-bold font weights to emphasize important information, such as titles or key points. This draws attention to crucial details and enhances the visual hierarchy.
Limiting Font Styles
Stick to One or Two Styles: Using too many font styles can make the text look cluttered and reduce readability. Consistency in font styles helps maintain a professional and clean look.
Additional Tips for On-Screen Text
In addition to these general guidelines, here are some additional tips to ensure your on-screen text is effective:
Background and Visual Contrast
Ensure that your font displays well against both light and dark backgrounds. To achieve this, you can use:
An outline or a light or dark shadow for the text to stand out. Fading the background contrast to match the text color. Adding a slightly larger background color that contrasts with the text.Example:
The first three examples shown (n) are generally considered unacceptable because they lack sufficient contrast. The fourth example, with a faded contrast in the background image, is the most common and effective. The fifth example, with a bold background, is clear but can be intrusive.
Scalability for Projection
Ensure that the font looks clear even when scaled up for projection. TV broadcasting requires particularly crisp fonts, often using yellow with a crisp outline, as it stands out well against most backgrounds. In normal subtitles, text is painted into the picture and fixed at a specific resolution.
Captioning for Accessibility
Considering captioning is another effective strategy. Captioning involves carrying text information separately and printing it on the picture only when the video is played, ensuring it is displayed at the best resolution for the player.