Graphic Design Tips

Fonts: The Rule of Three
Hundreds of fonts exist for your project, and it can be tempting to use
all the ones you like. But you want your piece to clearly convey your message, and using more than three fonts can distract potential customers away from what you're really trying to accomplish. Also keep in mind the message and tone a font style conveys and make sure it matches your print product's purpose.

Shuffle Your Feet
There are two categories of fonts: Serif and San-serif. The term "Serif" refers to all the little lines that look like feet sticking out from the letters. The most common serif font is Times New Roman. Some of the more common sans-serif fonts, which do not have those finishing strokes, are Arial and Verdana, used on this page.

Serif fonts are easier on the eye, so are commonly used in big blocks of text. Because san-serif fonts are typically harder to read in those big blocks, they are often used instead for headlines, titles, etc. Using san-serif fonts for headlines and serif fonts for the body copy of your print piece is only a guide, not a rule. If you’re targeting a younger audience, for instance, you may use a san-serif as the body copy font. Most Web sites also use sans-serif fonts because they're easier to read onscreen.

The Art of Color
The colors you choose for your print product speak volumes about your company. Bright colors often come across as friendly and lighthearted, while deep hues can connotate a serious approach. Many colors evoke certain feelings or concepts to most people. Green, for example, often conjures up nature and freshness, while blue represents security and calmness. As for number of colors, stick to three: a dominate, secondary and accent color.

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