THE EFFECTS OF LEVEL OF ILLUMINATION, STROKE-WIDTH, VISUAL ANGLE AND CONTRAST ON THE LEGIBILITY OF NUMERALS OF VARIOUS FONTS

Examination of the effects of level of illumination, stroke-width, visual angle and contrast on legibility of numerals shows that some fonts tested are significantly better than others. There is an optimum luminance level (of about 34.3 cd/sq m) for legibility of white letters on a black background. White letters on black background are significantly more legible than black numerals on a white background. Optimum legibility is obtained when stroke-width/height ratios are less than 1/6 for black numerals and about 1/12 for white numerals. A set of numerals was selected from all those tested which is significantly better than any of the standard sets, particularly for black numerals on a white background. /Author/TRRL/

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Proceedings of 8th Conference, University of Western Australia, Perth.
• Corporate Authors:

  ARRB

  Melbourne, Victoria  Australia 
• Authors:
  • Hind, P R
  • Tritt, B H
  • Hoffmann, E R
• Conference:
  • Australian Road Research Board Conference Proc
• Publication Date: 1976

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 46-55
• Serial:
  • Volume: 8
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angularity; Conferences; Contrast; Legibility; Lettering; Size; Street lighting; Traffic signs; Visibility; Width
• Uncontrolled Terms: Angles
• ITRD Terms: 8525: Conference; 6794: Contrast (visual); 9014: Dimension; 540: Legibility; 541: Lettering; 545: Lighting (street); 553: Traffic sign; 6783: Visibility
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164214
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: May 18 1978 12:00AM