Large Print Council

Vision loss can occur at any time, to anyone. Vision loss in the elderly has many causes: Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, or Stroke, to name just a few. Diabetes, Retinitis Pigmentosa, or accidents can cause reduced vision in younger adults. Cortical Vision Impairment, Retinopathy of Prematurity, Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, Albinism and Juvenile Diabetes may cause vision loss in children. This community of poor-sighted readers is a growing population in the U.S. and we are dedicated in educating the print and web design industry about this issue.

Even though large print has been in use almost as long as the existence of the printing press, little has been done to bring large print to its full potential of usability by the low vision user. Printers and web designers need to take into account low-vision readers and produce materials that accomodate this segment of the population.  

The Large Print Council (LPC) has developed guidelines for its own use after a thorough study of current research and an examination of existing standards in the industry. It is hoped these guidelines will aid printers, web designers and those producing large print documents to enhance the usefulness of large print for the reader.

Each large print user should have access to:

• A font that is at least 18 points in size (Normally Large Print is defined as print that is at least 16 points in size). 
• X-height and t-heights of at least 1/8 inch.
• A typeface without serifs.
• Spacing between lines of print of at least 1.25 spaces.
• Headings and subheadings that are larger and bolder than regular large print text.
• Paragraphs that are block style and use 1 inch margins. The left margin should be justified and the right hand margin should not be justified. There should be no first-line indentations to delineate paragraphs.
• Printed materials with no columns or divided words.
• Black print on white, ivory, cream, or yellow paper with a dull finish so as not to promote glare.
• Print that is not used over a background design or other graphical material.
• Graphics that are not only enlarged, but maintain the same contrast, clarity, and appropriate coloration as those prepared for their sighted peers.
• Graphic materials, such as maps, graphs, and charts, which also adhere to type size, font, and other large print guidelines. (Guidelines for maps are under development.)
• Full-color or high-quality black line art rather than gray-scale or shaded drawings.
• Books that weigh no more than 32 ounces and are no larger in dimension than 9 inches by 12 inches by 2.5 inches.