THE HERALD TYPE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21457, 3 April 1933, Page 8

THE HERALD TYPE

NEW DESIGN INTRODUCED LARGER AND BOLDER LETTER IMPROVED LEGIBILITY In keeping with the traditional policy of progressive development which has characterised the production of tho Herald throughout its career, a notable change in the typographical composition employed in the principal news pages has been introduced in today's issue. Investigation of modern types, designed to suit present conditions, has resulted in the selection of a greatly improved face, which still con " forms to the general characteristics of the style to which Herald readers have been accustomed. The new letters are slightly larger, a trifle heavier and more open than those formerly used. These characteristics make for legibility and greatly assist the reader in perusing a large volume of news matter with less strain on the eyes. The new type in which the Herald is printed to-day has been chosen because it represents a definite improvement on its predecessors. The production of a modern newspaper on its mechanical side is regulated by many technical factors, among which one of the most important is the definite limitation of space. This includes the width of the column, which, in its turn, determines the limits of convenient size for individual letters. Working within these comparatively narrow boundaries the designer of type endeavours to evolve a form of letter that will be identified by the eye without conscious effort, so that the combination of letters in words and the sequence of words in sentences will bo easily comprehended without strain to the reader's sight. The superior legibility of printed matter compared with manuscript is due not only to the artistic regularity of types, but also to the proportions of each letter-type—the actual size of the letter and the breadth of each component line and curve. In fact, the clarity of the printed letter depends upon the contrast between black and white, of the letter against its background, including the very important part of the background which is visible within the letter itself. The achievement of the most effective contrast depends upon the original design of the type, the perfection with which the type-mould, or matrix, i 3 cut and the actual type cast, and finally the care with which the newspaper is printed, with ink and upon paper specially manufactured for the purpose. In order to equip 18 of the Herald's linotypes with this new type approximately 27,000 new matrices or letter moulds were required. This change involves the scrapping of large quantities of old matrices, but it has been made with the confident expectation that the new form in which the Herald presents the news of the world will bo appreciated by its readers.