Introduction
People with low vision are unique, being neither fully sighted nor totally blind. Visual acuities vary greatly, as do individual needs. This is especially true regarding the wide range of criteria and guidelines that are used by printing houses and publishers to produce "large print" documents for the low vision community.
Guidelines
The following are best practices and guidelines for large print documents adopted by the ACB Board of Publications in May 6, 2025.
Base Font
Arial, not bold, 18 point
Headings
Flush left, bold, Heading 22 point, Subheading 20 point
Spacing
1.15 inch between lines
Paragraphs
Blocked with 1 blank line between and between headings/subheadings and text.
Margins
Flush left margin, Ragged right margin.
Clear spacing of 1 inch for top, left and right margins.
Format Indicators
Asterisks, dashes, etc.
Emphasis
Underline
Bullets
Large, solid, dark bullets with no blank line between
Lists
Bulleted
Bullets as primary and numbers as applicable (make sure the numbers are the same size).
Hanging Indent
List items aligned directly below the first item with the bullet out dented to the left margin.
Columns
Single column per page.
Horizontally connect two related columns of information (table of contents) with leader dots.
Notes
Notes or citations at end of the article.
Contrast
Black text printed on off white or cream-colored paper.
Graphics
Caption pictures with meaningful text and describe more complex graphics.
Document Binding
Up to 20 pages saddle stapled. Thicker documents bound with spiral or wire binding. The margin must accommodate the binding.
Paper
Matte or dull finish to reduce glare.
Page Setup
Eliminate "widows" and "orphans" when continuing text from one page to the next. Avoid hyphenated words.
Page Numbering
The same font style and at least the same font size as the document text.
Single-sided, unbound documents: page number bold in lower outer corner.
Bound documents: Page number bold in lower outer corner of each page.
Name Badges
Applicable to the three-inch by four-inch (3” x 4”) name badges regularly issued for the ACB Conference and Convention and other in-person ACB Events.
First name in bold Arial 35-point (or the largest point the longest name in the attendee list will accommodate)
Last name in regular Arial 24-point font
With 10-point space between each line
Conclusion
The intent of this summary of large print information is to provide a one-stop, comprehensive resource for producers and consumers of large print documents. This document is a summary of the most important large print issues. While developed specifically for use in large print documents, these best practices are not exclusive to this medium. Many of these guidelines can easily be applied to other formats, such as: printed labels for a variety of uses, signage of all sorts, a wide range of computer applications, and many others. The proper mix of spacing, font size, style, and contrast, can enhance the readability of any printed material used by the low vision community.