The practice of accessible print

In practice, you often see the same points go wrong. Choices in design, paper and typography that affect accessible print. They are often not glaring errors, but small decisions that cause readers to drop out or fail to process information properly. It's important to make print not only visually appealing, but above all, usable and practical.

1. Font size too small

A common problem within accessible print is typography that is too small. Especially program books, magazines and brochures with a lot of text run into this. For the elderly and those with visual challenges, this is an immediate barrier, but it actually affects every reader who wants to be able to follow information effortlessly.

See how we assess font size and typography within the EPAS guidelines here.

2. Insufficient contrast

Modern design often uses pastel shades, light photography and thin typography. On a monitor this works well, but in print the contrast can quickly disappear especially under changing light conditions. Insufficient contrast is one of the biggest obstacles to accessible print and particularly affects people with impaired vision. But readers without disabilities also experience less reading comfort when text has too little contrast. Good use of color therefore remains very important for accessible print.

3. Paper that shines too much

Glossy paper looks luxurious, but in practice can significantly interfere with readability. Due to strong reflection, text easily disappears under daylight or lights. Printed material for the elderly, the visually impaired and readers who suffer from eye strain are particularly affected by this. A beautiful paper type is therefore not automatically suitable for accessible printing. Matte paper or lightly textured paper often performs much better in realistic reading conditions.

Learn more about paper selection in our print audits.

4. Unsettled design

A design can be visually impressive, yet look unsettling to readers. Long lines, densely packed blocks of text, an explosion of styles, too much use of color or overlapping elements make reading tiresome. Good readability requires calmness, balance and clear structure. Accessible magazines and brochures work precisely with white space, logical hierarchy and a recognizable structure.

5. Binding that interferes with use.

Accessible print is not only about what's on the page, but also about how it physically feels. A program booklet that constantly falls shut or a magazine that won't stay open may seem like a small detail, but it's a serious barrier for many readers.

Physical interaction with print is part of accessibility. If a publication is difficult to hold or flip, that extra effort sometimes takes so much that people drop out.

In short

Many accessibility problems in print arise not from one big mistake, but from a series of small choices that together have a major effect on the reading experience. Therefore, accessible print requires attention to contrast, typography, structure and material selection. With the right insights, print becomes not only more beautiful, but more importantly much more user-friendly for everyone from young readers to the elderly and people with disabilities.

Find out how Eclusive assesses accessibility from print through the EPAS guidelines.