Missouri Assistive Technology

Missouri Alternative Communication Resource Directory

Large Print

Large print is print produced in 18 point or larger and is most frequently used by people with vision loss. It also increases reading comfort levels for many other people. While 18 point is considered to be large print, some individuals may need a larger point size for effective access. It is helpful to work with users to clearly define what font size will provide effective access. It is also helpful to inform the consumer if the volume of material is large. Depending on the use of the materials, a combination of large print and other format, such as audio cassette, might be more convenient for the consumer.

The fonts for large print should be clear and crisp. The effectiveness of large print depends on a strong and definite contrast of the letters and characters against the paper or background. It is best to use bold, sans serif fonts which do not have decorative features. Examples of sans serif fonts that work well with large print are: Arial, Park Place, School Book, Lucida Sans, Helvetica, and Bordeaux.

This is 12-point Arial bold in upper and lower case.

This is 14-point Arial bold in upper and lower case.

This is 18-point Arial bold in upper and lower case.

Large print is easier to read in upper and lower case letters than in all upper case.

Assistive technology enables an individual with a disability to be more independent.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ENABLES AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.

Tips for producing large print materials

• Use one-inch margins and leave the right margins jagged. Justifying the right margin will create uneven white spaces between words and characters. Large print magnifies the spaces, making it more difficult to read.
• Use 1.25 line space
• Avoid the use of hyphens at the right margin.
• Use standard size paper, 8-1/2" X 11". Remember LP means large print not large paper.
• Use paper that will not produce glare. An off-white or light yellow paper with black ink will provide better contrast.
• All text should be left justified, including headings.
• Do not use italics or other font modifications.

Documents and materials are usually converted to large print in one of two ways: either the font size and layout of the document or material is changed on the computer or the document is enlarged on a photocopier with such capability. If you have the document saved as a text file, changing the font size and layout can be easily accomplished. If you do not have the document in a text file but have a good print copy, you can scan in the printed material then reformat it on the computer or enlarge the print copy on a photocopier. When enlarging on a photocopier, be sure that words are not cut off the sides of the paper and that the quality of the print is maintained.

Resources for Large Print Material

The following list of resources is not meant to be all inclusive but will provide a starting point for entities to access large print resources in Missouri.

Wolfner Library is a public library for persons unable to use standard print due to a physical disability. Wolfner offers materials on recorded audio cassettes and will loan cassette players for use with the recorded materials; provides free mail library service to user's homes; has more than 375,000 fiction and non-fiction books and magazines, for all ages; answers reference questions and provides research for users by telephone, mail, FAX, TTY or in person; and provides children's summer reading program and other programs for children, including services to schools.

Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, via agreement with the Jefferson City Correctional Center, converts print materials into audio-cassette, disk, large print and braille. While the primary purpose of the agreement is to produce alternative format material for staff and clients of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, other agencies and individuals may use the service. Costs are charged based on the type of alternative format requested.