Fonts

With or without serifs?

Sans serif fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, etc.) are good for headings and short texts. They look professional and neat.

Fonts with serifs, like Times (New Roman), are better for longer texts. The serifs help read the text more quickly, as they make it easier for the eye to navigate the line on a printed page.

All other fonts (Comic, Braggadocio, Curlz, Edwardian, Lucida Handwriting, etc.) are not advisable for a scientific poster. They are often associated with a lack of factuality and professionalism or are perceived as difficult to read.

In the top line, the serifs on the individual letters are marked with red arrows. Depending on the font, they can be striking or rather inconspicuous. There are almost no serifs on the “r”, but they are more prominent on the letters “S”, “f” and “n”. In the second line, a sans serifs font was chosen. In the third line, a font with serifs was chosen. The faint red line illustrates the effect of serifs on the eye. It is suitable for longer continuous texts.