PART 2 – LAYOUT AND DOCUMENT FORMAT
Introduction and sources
This document is aimed at the training industry and contains hints and tips that we have gathered as a leading training industry provider of printed materials and eBooks. This follows on from Part 1 and we would emphasise that we are trying to spread best practise, as we understand it, but if we have, in your view, made an error or you have a point to add then please email david@pdi.co.uk
A reminder that ‘what works for one individual may not always work for all’ but here are some further ideas to make documents more accessible. Following on from the discussion on most accessible fonts we move to:
- Background Colour
The clarity of the written word is effected by the colour of the background. Visually impaired people may find that white text on a black background is much easier to discern. Even if not visually impaired, many find white on a black background a lot less stressful to the eye if spending a long period in front of a screen.
As well as black, other coloured backgrounds can help give distinction to lettering. Common colours that some people with dyslexia prefer are sepia, yellow or blue backgrounds. But this is a very personal issue and for some has no effect whilst for others it is profound.
- Formatting
As discussed in Part 1, the font can make life problematic particularly if it has a serif. The word “serif” signifies the little tail attached to the end of a stroke in writing some letters. As well as the font there are other things which give clarity such as:
- Avoid italics and underlining – often used for emphasising a phrase it can cause visual confusion. Far better to use bold for emphasis. Or bullet point.
- Use 1.5 spacing between lines, white space is the key here allowing space for the eye to focus.
- Similarly use a double space between paragraphs
- Indent paragraphs to allow a clear margin space but do not indent the first line of paragraph, use block paragraphs.
- Left justify the paragraph but do not justify the right. This is because in doing so, you will marginally effect the spacing between words. Consistency of spacing helps.
The principle message is give plenty of white space and make it simple and consistent.
EBOOK VERSUS PRINTED MANUAL
Whether it is font or document layout, the ‘rules’ for accessibility apply to both paper documents and to eBooks. The only exception being font size which ideally needs to 12pt or above in print. eBooks of course can zoom and so this does not apply.
The benefit of eBooks however is the ability to change aspects of the book for the individual, using the functionality of the reader. This is particularly true with PDI Kortext reader and the ePub version of a book.
You can change the following elements in the different eBook formats:
PDF based eBook:
- Zoom to increase font sizes
- Text to speech available via the Kortext App.
- Background colour change
ePub based eBook
- Zoom to increase font sizes
- Text to speech available via the Kortext App.
- Background colour change with wider choice of colour options
- Font change to include various sans serif fonts
The beauty of the eBook is that it is the reader who creates the different formats and therefore the reader can keep confidential any challenges they may have with the written word.
To understand more about how the PDI eBook might make your training more accessible please contact us at enquiries@pdi.co.uk