UTMB Web Styleguide: Typeface and Page Background

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Typeface and Page Background

Page Size
A rule-of-thumb generally recognized in the industry is to try and keep your web page sized so that it downloads and displays on an average user's computer in less than 10 seconds. Currently, that assumes that the average user is visiting your site using a 56K modem.

Typeface
All body copy on university web pages should use your choice of the approved font strings:

for sans-serif type:

Arial, Helvetica, Verdana, sans-serif;
"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif;

for serif type:

Times New Roman, Times, serif;
Georgia, Times, serif;

Implementing typeface as a style in a Cascading Style Sheet is the preferred method. Regardless, use the same font string in the body copy of every page on your site.

In most cases, body copy should be set to Size 3 (12pt).

Text should always be used in a color that presents a high contrast to the background. Black is the preferred color. See below.

The information on this page is intended for UTMB web pages. Visit the Print Publication Standards for more information on approved typefaces for printed material. (Web and print standards are not interchangeable with regard to approved typefaces.)

Page Background
Please use a solid white background. Use of a white background increases legibility and consistency across the UTMB web. Background images should be used very sparingly if at all; the logo and seal should never be used as a background image.

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Last Modified: 10/05/07