Many people with low vision can read standard print if it is well designed. They may also use magnification or certain lighting to improve readability. However reading a long document can be slow and exhausting and reading small print can be impossible therefore larger print sizes become necessary.
Large Print
Larger print is essential for many blind and partially sighted people. No single size is suitable for everyone. Large print is usually in the range of 16 to 22 point.
Public libraries are still the main outlet for large print books but some are available in larger book shops. RNIB National Library Service has a small collection of large print books for loan.
The font type and design of the book will make a big difference to the readability of the information. Publications using large text but with poor colour contrast, italic fonts or text placed on top of an image will still be difficult to read.
Large print preferences such as size and typeface can vary according to the sight impairment of the reader. For example, some people prefer serif rather than sans serif or might have a particular preference for a certain type size. Organisations producing information in large print will often ask a customer for their font size preference to ensure they are meeting their needs.
Giant Print
Giant Print books have a 24 point text size or larger and are available from RNIB National Library Service and the National Blind Children’s Society (NBCS) for children’s books only.
- Giant Print is not generally available from commercial sources.
- RNIB and NBCS produce catalogues of Giant Print books.
- Giant Print is more widely available for children and younger people.
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- Date: May 2009