[scribus] font usage

[CLIVE CATTERALL]

jjj wrote:

> If you are new to DTP I would also suggest reading up on
> the different
> classes of fonts (text, display, and so on). For example,
> it is
> generally acceptable to use a sans-serif font for
> headlines, but not
> for body text. Learning all the rules for proper font usage
> will make
> your work look more professional. 

While this is sound advice, perhaps the most useful thing to do is to specifically look at font usage in other publications in your area. 

Many, many manuals, particularly car manuals (I believe every single Haynes Manual), many adult "how-to" books, and children's craft and how-to books usually have sans body text.

This seems to be an increasing modern trend. For example Delia Smith's original cookbook (my edition from 1989) was set in Baskerville (very nice and legible, even at small size), but the much later DS Vegetarian collection (2002)is set in a *condensed* Helvetica. (Both BBC Books)

If you have nothing else to go on then do the sans/heading serif/body thing, but do look at what everyone else is doing.

Clive Catterall