Large Print? by Alondra Deltoro and Aliza Byrlinsky
HISTORY OF LARGE PRINT BOOKS
One of the very first large print publishing companies, Clear Type Publishing Company based in Ohio, published its debut collection in 1901. The collection featured books printed in a whopping 36 point font!
It took 13 years to finally realize that a size 36 font was just…
Too. Big.
Let us give a special thanks to Robert Irwin, who, after producing a (failed) series of textbooks for visually impaired children using that size font, shed the light on the issue. Since then, large print publishers have opted for a more discreet size 16 or 18 point font.
That, however, didn’t stop Frederick Thorpe from releasing books with its text nearly doubled the size of its standard counterparts in 1964. This was naturally met with some complications. With the text being blown up so much, this resulted in his books being way heavier than normal due to the need for more space (paper). Thus, making it difficult for patrons to comfortably carry around the books. Fast forward to five years later, Ulverscroft, Thorpe’s company, finally began to publish normal-sized binding and size 16 point font books.
Today, the RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) considers “large print” to be anything that falls between size 16 to 18 point font. Anything larger than that is now said to be called “giant print”.
Here are some standards that must be met when publishing a large print title:
● Maximum limits on size, thickness, and weight
● Type size at least 14 point, preferably 18 point
● Sans serif or modified serif font recommended
● Adequate letter and word spacing
● Flexible binding recommended to allow open book to lie flat
THE LATEST IN LARGE PRINT BOOK NEWS
In time for summer reading, publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin Group, Harlequin Enterprises, Random House, and HarperCollins have launched or plan to launch large-print lines designed to appeal to squinting baby boomers who are discovering that standard type is, well, impossible to read.
The new paperback and hardcover books feature bigger types, more generous spacing, and the same cover art as smaller-print versions.
What they don't include is any suggestion that the "comfort-read" type has anything to do with getting older.
"More and more middle-aged consumers are looking for large-print books but don't want to admit that they need large-print books," says Marion Haugh, owner of the Large Print Bookstore in Englewood, Colo. "So they preface their order by saying bigger print is easier to read in bed or on the treadmill or on the beach. Which it is. But the truth is boomers just can't make out the type they used to be able to read. Publishers have realized that there is a whole new market for this format."
According to Lighthouse International (a group that helps people deal with loss of vision), 17 percent of Americans 45 and older have some form of visual impairment.
In 2010, all boomers will have reached that milestone birthday -- a group of about 20 million -- and most will be feeling the effects of presbyopia, the inability to focus on objects close up. (By the time we hit our 40s or 50s, the elasticity of the eye naturally decreases with age, and our close-up sight is affected.)
Those numbers add up to an expanding market for easier-to-read books, a category in the past limited mostly to seniors and individuals with serious visual impairments.
"Those consumers still make up the majority of buyers," says Haugh, who stocks about 2,000 titles in her inventory. "But publishers have noticed the growing demand and responded with more and more titles. It used to be that only the very best-selling authors made it into large print. Now lesser-known authors are being published in standard, audio and large-print versions. Large-print titles used to be more expensive than regular-print books, but that is beginning to change. Many large-print hardcovers are now priced just a few dollars more standard-print versions."
From this article https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2007-06-17-0706130044-story.html
WHY PUBLISH LARGE PRINT?
As the demographic that loves to read grows older, their needs change and must be accommodated. With old age comes the wear and tear of the body- eyes included! That being said, it is imperative that as a publisher, we tend to the needs of the consumer! The introduction of large print editions of the titles available at Cozy Cat Press will be a wonderful perk that readers will most definitely take full advantage of.
The audience taking advantage of large print books isn't only limited to seniors, however. They are also excellent for those just trying to snuggle up to a good cozy after a long day at the office being glued to a computer screen! Yep, those who simply want to give their eyes a break from the constant screen time also can appreciate a large print book. Our eyes get so strained from all the computer screens and phones we stare at virtually all day. With a large print book, we are able to give our eyes a temporary break from the blue light and small font. This makes for a more enjoyable, effortless, and less strenuous way of reading.
The pros of printing your books in a larger print are many.
For starters, that of which I mentioned earlier with the eyestrain!
Another added benefit the article,” Study links large print with improved reading comprehension”, states is that “reading comprehension and engagement can be boosted substantially by increasing the size of the typeface”. Why does this happen you may ask? Because readers miss out on less text and are able to capture more of what they read since they are able to easily take it in.
An increase in the font size doesn’t only help with retention, it also proves beneficial to those with learning disabilities like dyslexia. Another target audience primarily helps are those with poor vision as well. A huge demographic that primarily resorts to larger print books are seniors. They both like to read and are, at times, visually impaired.
It also facilitates reading on the go for those who like to remain active while reading. Have it be while you ride your stationary bike or run on your treadmill -the large font makes it much easier to view and read.
As a publisher, it is always nice to offer the option of larger print editions of the titles available. “Publishing a large-print edition to include more readers isn’t merely an act of altruism, it’s a sensible way of attracting readers and entering a marketplace with significantly less competition.”
info on large print books:
For people with macular degeneration it is helpful to have bold print so that the contrast with the white page makes the words easier to see and read. When the letters are very dark and crisp, your reading will be more enjoyable.
https://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/large-print-books.html
https://blog.gale.com/lpmyths/
https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2018/05/25/publishing-large-print-edition/ Found this article on large print books and the advantages behind printing them, perhaps some of the same things apply to mystery?