In your example of the two spacings of Gill Sans, I prefer the wide space version, as I always do with Gill Sans. It strongly appeals to me; funny, Gill Sans always looks better spaced out very wide.
In the examples in this article, I get a different sense of the meaning and weight of the message in the letterspaced version. "Is it that time again?" with spaces encourages me to wonder what is special about "that time" and what I should be thinking about it. It becomes more than an ordinary statement. Because it's a little harder to read, it's not something I skim or skip over, but pause over -- and that slight pause seems to trigger my brain to think more about the message than it would have otherwise.
I might use letterspacing in an ad or headline where I'd want people to think about the message I'm about to deliver and be encouraged to look further.
Hi Ilene. Once again you're dispensing some good advice. I would only add that whenever I use small caps as a lead-in to a column of type I find that when I slightly l/s those words they look and read better.
Letterspacing Gill Sans
In your example of the two spacings of Gill Sans, I prefer the wide space version, as I always do with Gill Sans. It strongly appeals to me; funny, Gill Sans always looks better spaced out very wide.
Actually he said
something SHAG sheep but that was too hot so it has been changed to "steal".
Use it if you want a reader to linger over the words
In the examples in this article, I get a different sense of the meaning and weight of the message in the letterspaced version. "Is it that time again?" with spaces encourages me to wonder what is special about "that time" and what I should be thinking about it. It becomes more than an ordinary statement. Because it's a little harder to read, it's not something I skim or skip over, but pause over -- and that slight pause seems to trigger my brain to think more about the message than it would have otherwise.
I might use letterspacing in an ad or headline where I'd want people to think about the message I'm about to deliver and be encouraged to look further.
letterspacing
Hi Ilene. Once again you're dispensing some good advice. I would only add that whenever I use small caps as a lead-in to a column of type I find that when I slightly l/s those words they look and read better.
Bob Callahan
Stamford
Letterspacing a crime?
It is customary in German to letterspace as a form of emphasis. I certainly find it arresting.
James Salmon