OK So What If......(Safe Font)

[LeeH]

Ok, Now what if the user does not have the tahoma font installed. Will the browser just display the text in the default font of the browser?

[Mandi]

Yup, that's how it works!

[Justin]

That's why I recommend specifying your preferred font, followed by other choices, and ending with "Serif" or "Sans-Serif". This way, at minimum the browser will show a font similar to what you wanted in any case.

If you have some very specific text you absolutely need in a specific font, you can use a graphic; but always keep in mind that graphics don't scale (accessibility) as easily, can't be translated, etc...

[koala]

I have written a short article (http://fusionfaq.bitmotion.com/article/article_view.asp?id=27) about this which may be of help to you.

It was written for NetObjects Fusion users, but the principles are universal.

Regards

Simon

[LeeH]

Thanks to everyone that replied. FQ forums members are great!

Lee

[thru9dwn3]

If you truly wish to garner 98% of the viewers with the same text, specify Arial only, their are i believe two other fonts that are similar between the major platforms but some systems use Times, while others use Times New Roman, sutle differences, but differences none the less. If their are certain fonts in the newsletter that you specifically need to show, use an image editing program like Photoshop, Imageready, Fireworks, or something simliar to save the text as an image, you wont' be able to edit the text unless you save a file as a psd, or png for fireworks, but for the web you'll need to save it as a gif file, smaller download, and clearer appearance., then it doesn't matter what the end user has it'll look the same across all platforms, and browsers. ;)

hope that helps,

[Justin]

I would recommend using an image for text only where absolutely necessary. Images can't (as easily) be resized (think accessibility), can't be translated, or read through a screen reader, etc...

[Tibbits]

Originally posted by thru9dwn3:
If you truly wish to garner 98% of the viewers with the same text, specify Arial only

Arial is the Microsoft name for Helvetica, and to ensure a similar look everywhere you can cover 100% (well, excepting text browsers like Lynx) of viewiers with Arial, Helvetica, Sans Serif. I think all browsers default to a serif font like times so there isn't really any need to specify that.

[Justin]

I personally can't stand a serif font on screen (but printed I prefer serif). My browser defaults to Helvetica, but the default default font was in fact Times...

And Tibbits has a point -- Arial is not in fact universal. I happen to have it only because I installed some Adobe font-pack at some point, but Helvetica is available on all my *nix boxes.

Which just goes to show, again, always specify multiple fonts. I generally use (in this order) "Arial, Helvetica, Sans-Serif" (Arial first only because most users are on Windows). This covers as many people as possible.

Now if you do need some off-the-wall font, my recommendation is to:

- Evaluate whether you really need to use that font
- If all else fails, make an image (keeping this to a minimum though).

[Rich]

I would recommend using an image for text only where absolutely necessary. Images can't (as easily) be resized (think accessibility), can't be translated, or read through a screen reader, etc...
In general, I agree. However, if it is *only* text and you use an alt tag then most accessibility software will still read it, although most translation programs might skip it.

Rich
:rasberry: <- translate this!