Reversed type is the name for light-colored text on a dark background. Reversed text is also called knockout text. This is because the text is knocked out from the colors behind it. Reversed text does not have to be white. The term refers to any light color on any dark background.
Reversed type can be an amazing design choice, especially on booklets, programs, brochures, and pamphlets. However, it can cause issues with printing, so special precautions should be taken. Here are our suggestions for designing printed goods with reversed type:
- Choose bold fonts. Ink tends to spread a little after printing. On knockout text, the dark ink will spread into the light ink, making the letters appear smaller than intended, especially if your chosen font has fine serifs. Bold fonts reduce the chance of text becoming illegible or losing detail due to the ink spread.
- Be careful with serifs. Tiny serifs and details run the risk of being lost due to the dark ink spread. Try picking fonts with big serifs or go with sans serifs.
- Stick to headlines. Reversed text can be challenging to read in long chunks. Use reversed text for headlines and normal text for body paragraphs to reduce reader fatigue.
- Pick large font sizes. Large point sizes reduce the risk of text becoming illegible or losing detail due to the ink spread.
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