Typography Essentials

THE LETTER11 Considering background contrast

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEEN FOREGROUND and background totality is a key factor in legibility. The highest degree of contrast exists between black and white. Studies have shown that, while black type on a white background is highly legible, the same quantity of white type on a black background is harder to read. In large quantities, especially at text type sizes, there is a kind of “halo” or sparkle effect that impedes legibility and is actually uncomfortable to the eye.

As type color and background color come closer together in hue, saturation, and density, legibility is reduced. At a certain point where there is not enough contrast (and this point is a moving target, because it depends on many other factors, ...