Design Lesson Number 4 - Fonts

I see so many people make the basic mistake of combining more than two fonts for a book cover or using two different serif or sans-serif fonts on the cover of their book.

There's a reason you shouldn't do that: it looks like a mistake.

Even if it was intentional, it still looks like a mistake. If you use more than one font or hand-lettering plus a font, stick to ONE serif and ONE sans-serif.

What's a serif? Well, that's why I give you nice folks examples :)

Examples:

These are serifs

Well, now you know. Serif fonts can look eerily similar. There are other fonts too: Script and Specialty fonts that should also not be used in combination with more than one of the same.

Please, choose a MAXIMUM of TWO fonts for any project and stick with them. Avoid, at all costs, FREE fonts. The quality SUCKS on most of them and in the rights, you will usually find that they are not licensed to be used in projects for distribution. You could be sued. Same with photographs. Be very very careful and read the rights to the image you're buying.

Remember, we don't want our covers to look DIY.

I hope this helps in some small way. That was the four lessons of the week. Next week, back to writing!!

If any of you would like to have this information made available in a book, leave a comment and I will see what I can do. Of course it would be free, Silly!! :)

Until next time, WRITE ON!!

Jo