Headlines and other short phrases or blocks of text are often set in display type sizes of 18 points and larger. While readability is still important, there is more leeway for using fun or decorative typefaces in headlines. Beyond what the headline says, it needs contrast — of size or font choice or color — to make it stand out.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: As long as it takes to find the right fonts for your headlines
Here's How:
Match headline fonts to tone of document. Choose a font for headlines that is appropriate to the tone and purpose of your publication. Does the font say fun or serious to you?
Use contrasting font styles for headlines. Serif body copy and sans serif headlines provide good contrast. Avoid using headline and body copy fonts that are too similiar in style, such as two different serif or sans serif fonts.
Use bold headline fonts to add contrast. If using the same font for body copy and headlines, create contrast by setting headlines bolder and much larger than body text.
Make headlines a different color than other text. Use color in the headline to create contrast but make sure there is enough contrast not only between the headline and the body text but also between the headline color and the background.
Make headlines larger than body copy. Display and headline fonts are more readable at larger sizes than body copy fonts. For extremely decorative or elaborate fonts use even larger display sizes of 32 points or more in headlines. Create a headline hierarchy with headline fonts that look good in multiple sizes.
Limit use of decorative headline fonts. Extremely decorative or elaborate display fonts, even at headline font sizes, are harder to read. Use decorative headline fonts in moderation and for shorter headlines.
Set all caps headlines in sans serif fonts. Serif, scripts, and elaborate decorative fonts are much harder to read set in all caps. For headlines set in all caps, stick with sans serif fonts.
Kern your headlines. Adjust the spacing of type set at display sizes to eliminate distracting gaps between certain pairs of letters. Gaps in headlines stand out like sore thumbs.
Tips:
Don't let headlines be squished. If you don't want to spend time kerning your headlines, try fonts that have better letterspacing and don't need kerning. It varies from typeface to typeface.
Use headline fonts consistently. Try to use the same headline fonts throughout a publication, using variations consistently as well -- such as one style for major stories, another for secondary or sidebar articles.
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