In order to make your web pages look good across all platforms and browsers,
you must standardize your font selection. You must also limit the fonts that
you use to those that probably will be installed on most of your target
systems.
The reason for this is simple: fonts within web pages are only displayed
properly if the font is installed within the viewers computer system. You
might think your web page looks great with the "Oreo Bazooka Joe" font, but
since I don't have that installed my system will substitute my default font.
The problem is especially apparent for those Windows designers with many
different fonts installed. It looks great on their system, right?
Some web sites solve this problem by allowing their visitors to download and
install the fonts which they display. I've seen this most often in
"Halloween" sites with their strange, gothic fonts. Have I ever downloaded
and installed those fonts? Nope.
This method has the same problem that plug-ins introduce: visitors usually
don't want to install special things to view your web site. Requiring them
to install a new font just gives people one more reason to leave fast.
Microsoft has helped by creating a series of "web fonts" - a core of fonts
which are by default installed on any system that runs Internet Explorer.
These fonts are the same for both Windows and Macintosh.
These fonts include "Verdana", "Arial", "Trebuchet MS". "Georgia" and "Comic
Sans MS".
Generally, when you specify a font in a web page you should indicate a
primary font and a secondary font. This gives the system a choice as to
which fonts to use. The tag is styled as shown below.
This tag says to use Comic Sans MS if it is available. If not, then Arial is
to be used. The advantage of using this method is that you can ensure that
your web pages work properly even if your visitors do not have exactly the
right fonts installed.
About the Author
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This
website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet
profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
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