Web Guidelines - Typography and Fonts
Fonts should be specifed by using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS); avoid the <font> tag.
Font Sizing
Wherever possible, avoid specifying fixed pixel sizes for your fonts. Fonts sizes specified in this way will generally not increase in size if a user chooses to increase the font size on their browser. As a Web developer/designer you probably want more control over how your page displays. Using fixed font sizes can impact both the usability and accessibility of your site.
To specify the size of a font with a style rule, use the following syntax:
body {font-size: 90%;}
This rule would set the font size of the entire body to 90% of the currently set font size for the browser. If a user increases, their font size on their browser, the size of your type in your page would increase accordingly.
Keep in mind that font sizing can be cumulative. Consider the following rules
body {font-size: 90%;} p {font-size; 85%}
With these styles applied, the body would be 90% of normal size and the paragraphs would actually be 85% of that size, not 85% of normal, because paragraphs are contained within the body.
Note: The UT Home page does unfortunately uses fixed font sizes in its style sheet, we hope to remedy that soon.
Font Faces
The fonts used on the home page and in the templates are basic fonts that should be found on almost all computers. The wordmark of the university in the Trajan font is represented as a graphic because that font is not widely available. Trajan is also very similar to the carving on the Main Building "...and the truth shall set you free." Take a look.
The Trajan font used in the University of Texas wordmark is not a freely available font. If you want to use this font, please contact a designer with the Univesity Design Center or Information Technology Services, or purchase the font directly from Adobe.
The font used for most headlines and body text is Verdana. Verdana was created for computer applications and is a little wider than Helvetica. It is easier to read than Helvetica at smaller sizes.
Font colors
The font colors used in the Web central templates are #333333 (dark grey) and #CC5500 (UT burnt orange). You will need to call the class for the particular style you want to use. For example, if you use class="content" in your body, when you designate a H1, it will be #cc6633 and the size of 16 pixels. If you call another class for a table, tr or td later on in your doc, it will override the body class.
If you choose not to use the style sheet (css) for your document, then please continue to use Verdana for the text and headlines. Your unique heading or logo can still be whatever you choose, but for consistency of the user experience, maintain the Verdana font, keep the wordmark at the upper left corner of your page, and keep the universal navigation the same as the "trail."
