When you write in all capitals your eye can’t distinguish text correctly. All you see are grey blocks with shapes. When you write in upper and lower case the ascenders (the bits that go above the line, like d’s, l’s and h’s) along with the descenders (p’s, j’s etc) help you eye work out the text and you don’t so much as read the text but recognise the words. When you write in capitals your brain needs to work harder to read. For this reason it’s never a good idea to have too much text in capitals, a heading or a brief line or two are ok, but it’s a no-no for a paragraph of text. The paragraph below has the same text, see how much harder it is to read and how much more space it takes up.
Being a graphic designer is a trade with rules, guidelines and lots of things that are best practice, if in doubt, or if you want to look great give me a call on 01476 585100.
WHEN YOU WRITE IN ALL CAPITALS YOUR EYE CAN’T DISTINGUISH TEXT CORRECTLY. ALL YOU SEE ARE GREY BLOCKS WITH SHAPES. WHEN YOU WRITE IN UPPER AND LOWER CASE THE ASCENDERS (THE BITS THAT GO ABOVE THE LINE, LIKE D’S, L’S AND H’S) ALONG WITH THE DESCENDERS (P’S, J’S ETC) HELP YOU EYE WORK OUT THE TEXT AND YOU DON’T SO MUCH AS READ THE TEXT BUT RECOGNISE THE WORDS. WHEN YOU WRITE IN CAPITALS YOUR BRAIN NEEDS TO WORK HARDER TO READ. FOR THIS REASON IT’S NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE TOO MUCH TEXT IN CAPITALS, A HEADING OR A BRIEF LINE OR TWO ARE OK, BUT IT’S A NO-NO FOR A PARAGRAPH OF TEXT. THE PARAGRAPH BELOW HAS THE SAME TEXT, SEE HOW MUCH HARDER IT IS TO READ AND HOW MUCH MORE SPACE IT TAKES UP.
BEING A GRAPHIC DESIGNER IS A TRADE WITH RULES, GUIDELINES AND LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE BEST PRACTICE, IF IN DOUBT, OR IF YOU WANT TO LOOK GREAT GIVE ME A CALL ON 01476 585100.