Typeface Selection Standards: A Guide to Strategic Selection and Readability

Selecting typefaces requires an analytical methodology that ensures a balance between technical function and aesthetics. This choice must be based on strict criteria that go beyond personal preference to ensure the message is delivered clearly and effectively across various platforms.

1. Type Classification & Updated Function

• Latin (Sans Serif): Best for body text, UI, and digital screens; maximizes **Legibility** (ease of distinguishing letters) at small sizes.
• Latin (Serif): Best for printed books, magazines, long texts, and elegant digital headlines; improves **Readability** (comfort of reading long passages).
• Arabic (Naskh): The gold standard for readability in paragraph text and academic content; offers high coherence and visual balance.
• Arabic (Contemporary Kufi): Suitable for headlines, visual identities, and digital interfaces; combines geometric solidity with digital clarity.

2. Metrics and Performance

• Font Size: Body text should be no less than **16px** (or equivalent `rem` units for web) to ensure WCAG compliance. Must consider high **X-Height**.
• Tracking / Kerning: Avoid excessive tightness; character spacing must be balanced (Optimal Kerning) to prevent visual strain.
• Line Height (Leading): The optimal value ranges between **1.4 to 1.6 times the font size** for easy eye tracking.

3. Contrast, Color, and Accessibility

• Contrast Ratio: Body text must achieve a contrast ratio of at least **4.5:1** between the font and background colors (WCAG AA minimum).
• Color Strategy: Using dark colors on light backgrounds (or vice-versa) is the most effective approach for reading.
• Accessibility: For visually impaired users, choose a clear, moderate weight font (Medium/SemiBold) and allow the option for 200% text scaling.

4. Context and Alignment Tactics

• Digital Use (Screens): Select **Screen-Optimized** fonts that ensure clear edge rendering at various screen resolutions.
• Print: Use fonts with high outline quality and fine details that do not deteriorate when printed.
• Text Alignment: **Left alignment** (in Latin) or **Right alignment** (in Arabic) is best for long text readability. Avoid **Justified** alignment on the web as it creates distracting **"Rivers of White"**.

5. Branding and Technical Compatibility

• Brand Identity: The typeface must express the brand's values and act as a unique "personality" for the brand.
• Font Family: Choose a font that offers a wide range of weights and styles (Regular, Bold, Italic) to create a cohesive visual hierarchy.
• Legal and Technical Compliance: Verify the font's **Licensing** for commercial use or web embedding, and ensure its compatibility with modern operating systems and browsers (supporting WOFF2/OTF formats).

Conclusion: Font selection is an engineering and strategic decision aimed at achieving maximum clarity and impact across all media.