A study of the discernibility of electrophotostatic copied typestyles as compared with non-electrophotostatic copied typefaces

This paper reports the results of an investigation into the discernibility of seven typefaces when overlayed by 15 different gauges brought into contact with each type face. Discernibility was tested under two conditions; standard (original typeset words) and electrophotostatically copied (second generation copies of the original typeset words) . The question that this investigation was attempting to answer was whether or not certain typefaces are more discernible after electrophotostatic copying than other typefaces. The seven typefaces were chosen because they have a known aesthetic preference that can be catergorized in three groups; most preferred, inbetween and least pre ferred. Preference is important because it helps set a standard of comparison. The results for the first condition (standard or original typeset words), correlated preference of typeface to the ability to discern or identify the words. The results for the second condition (second generation electrophotostatic words) , clearly suggest that some typefaces reproduce better than other typefaces and that electro photostatic copying directly affects the discernibility of a typeface. It is therefore concluded that information that will be electrophotostatically copied repeatedly, should be set in a tolerant visible typeface. Visible meaning a typeface that is simple and firm with no extreme thin strokes