Typographic errors in printed books, though often subtle, can severely undermine the professionalism of a publication. As a book and editorial designer with years of experience, I have seen the full range of typographical mishaps and my goal is to provide best practices for avoiding them.
Mind the Widows and Orphans
Two particularly unsightly typographic errors are widows and orphans. A widow refers to a single word or short line appearing isolated at the top of a page or column. An orphan is the opposite - a single word or short line appearing isolated at the bottom of a page or column.
Both widows and orphans disrupt the cohesiveness of a text. Careful planning of page breaks is key to avoiding them. Sometimes slightly tighter or looser tracking can help prevent widows/orphans without having to entirely rework page layouts.
It's best to tackle widows and orphans in the typesetting stage before submitting final files for printing. Scouring each page for potential widows/orphans and making adjustments ensures they don't slip through the cracks. Don't rely on automatic typesetting software alone to catch these errors. The human eye notices disruptions to text flow that algorithms may miss.
Be Wary of Rivers
Rivers - long vertical gaps between words running down the page - are another common and distracting printing mishap. Rivers usually occur when word spacing and hyphenation is not properly considered.
Adjusting hyphenation and word spacing in problem areas can help divert rivers before sending books to print. A discerning eye is required to catch rivers, as they are visual interruptions to the flow of reading.
Rivers can be tricky, developing even after pages are sent to the printer. Making text tracking slightly tighter or looser in areas prone to rivers can help prevent their occurrence. When tweaking spacing, maintain even density and color of text as a whole. Drastic tracking changes lead to inconsistent typography.
Remember Rag Adjustment
Rag adjustment refers to visually aligning text along the left or right margins. When rag is not properly adjusted, the text looks uneven or boxy, disrupting aesthetics.
Manually or automatically adjusting rags, so text flows in a rounded, justified manner requires precision. Failure to adjust rag leads to glaring irregularity along the margins when a book is printed - an obvious oversight.
Rag adjustment corrects the shapes of letterforms where they meet margins, ensuring consistency. Optically aligning rags creates "invisible" margins that don't call attention to themselves. Well-crafted rags aid readability and make pages pleasing to the eye.
Be Wary of Text Outside Trim
Modern printing methods involve printing on large sheets of paper which are then cut down to size. Text falling outside the trim lines ends up cut off in the final book.
Careful planning of margins and bleeds is essential to prevent text running outside the trim. Even small details like page numbers can easily slip out of bounds without diligent quality checking before printing.
Give special attention to elements positioned at the top, bottom and outside edges of pages. Measure margins meticulously and have them reviewed by multiple sets of eyes before submitting files. Don't assume margins will remain intact if text reflows during printing. Defensively account for any movement or variance.
Choose Fonts Wisely
Poor font choices lead to inferior readability and cheapen the look of high quality content. Standard serif body fonts like Times New Roman or Adobe Garamond ensure smooth reading flow. Highly stylized display fonts are best reserved for headlines or pull quotes.
Thoughtful font pairing creates visual hierarchy and interest. Overuse of display or script fonts appears gimmicky and obscures readability. Mixing too many fonts without purpose disrupts continuity from chapter to chapter.
Aim for timeless, classic typography over trendy or loud. Readers absorb words better when font choices disappear into the background. Default to simple, trustworthy serif fonts for immersive reading, only deviating for strategic impact.
Don't Neglect Letterspacing
Though often overlooked, letterspacing deserves meticulous attention. Crowded letters create a dense, intimidating texture. Conversely, extra-loose letterspacing looks awkward and amateurish.
Finding the sweet spot of even spacing with enough room for distinction between individual letters enhances flow. Be extra attentive when letterspacing display or stylized fonts. Test different settings at text size - don't just preview enlarged.
Mind the Line Length
Aim to keep line length between 45-90 characters per line for optimal readability. Narrow columns with short line lengths make texts choppy with excessive breaks. Wide columns with long line lengths fatigue the eye traveling greater distances repeatedly.
Fluctuating line lengths grab attention through inconsistency. Stick to a narrow range of line lengths for each text block. Changes should only occur intentionally, say, to differentiate sidebars or highlights.
Following these key tips diligently at each stage of the typesetting and printing process allows publishers to produce polished, professional books free of distracting errors. Though subtle individually, collectively proper typographic choices enhance readability and elevate the aesthetics of books.