INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS LARGE PRINT GUIDELINES
FORMAT: Textbooks, Workbooks, and Library Books
Large-print books must retain the integrity, pagination and format of every print page in the original. Text should be black and have good contrast to ensure highest reliability between the lightest and darkest parts of each image on the page. Background seen behind main text should be removed. Convert white text to black.
The navigation cues given by the headers should be maintained. If headings are not converted to black, the color must be prominent with good contrast. Margins are to be ½ inch and print cannot fall into the white space between facing pages and edges of the book, known as the “gutter.”
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PAPER
Paper used must show good contrast and sharpness of print. It must have high capacity to absorb ink and color, not reflect light, and not be glossy. Paper must be off-white, and must weigh 50 to 60 pounds.
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PRINT QUALITY
Print qualities in order of importance:
- Sharpness – well defined and not blurry.
- Contrast – easily distinguishable, and ink does not flow together.
- Boldness – clear and vibrant; not murky.
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COLOR GRAPHICS
Good quality color photos must be provided. When possible, do not split images relevant to the text when reformatting the book. Superfluous photos, drawings, and designs may be split. Majority of text must be black ink printed on whitepaper. Reversed print (white on black) is acceptable, within graphs, charts and reference boxes, if clear and well defined
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HARD COVERS
Library books and textbooks with more than 75 pages must have hard covers and must lay flat when opened. The front and back of the original book must be replicated for large-print versions to include the required barcode information that can be scanned.
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PLASTIC SPIRAL BINDING
Workbooks and library books with less than 75 pages must have flexible plastic covers with plastic spiral binding. Workbooks that are 150 pages or more must be split into two volumes. The front and back of the original book must be replicated in the large-print version to include the required barcode information that can be scanned.
- Hole shape/size
- Use round holes (not oval holes).
- Use .125-size hole on books 3/8" thick or smaller.
- Use .187-size hole on books 7/16" thick or larger.
- Hole spacing
- Books that are 3/8" thick or smaller: have five holes per inch or .200 spaces.
- Books that are 7/16" thick or larger: have three holes per inch or .312 spaces.
- Coil
- Use stiff plastic coil.
- Coil size must exceed book thickness by only 1/8" to 1/2".
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MULTIPLE VOLUMES
A large-print book may be composed of several volumes. If this is the case, each volume must be the same size and can not be larger than 9 by 12 inches by 1-inch thick and must average a total of 150 pages.
Print pages that precede the main text, such as title page, copyright, authors, reviewers, contents, and others constitute front matter. Print pages that follow the main text, such as a glossary, index, appendix, and others constitute back matter.
A large-print book that requires two or more volumes must include the front matter and back matter in each volume. In the event three or more volumes are required, and the front matter and back matter exceeds fifty (50) original pages, then a separate volume is required that includes both front matter and back matter.
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RETURN INFORMATION
The first page of large-print books adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) must contain the following return information:
"LARGE-PRINT BOOK"
California Department of Education
CSMT Media Warehouse
3740 Seaport Blvd., #20
West Sacramento, CA 95691
Return large-print books, postage-free, by writing the following in the upper right section of the package: "FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND OR HANDICAPPED”
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DEFINITION OF LARGE-PRINT, FONT SIZE REQUIREMENT, AND DIMENSIONS OF LARGE-PRINT BOOK
Large-print is generally defined as print for text passages that is larger than the print used by that segment of the population with normal vision. The print sizes most commonly used by the sighted population range from eight to twelve point fonts.
The CSMT takes the position that large-print for use by the low vision students in grades kindergarten (K) through grade eight (8) must be in 20-point font, depending on the material.
The "X-Height" is the size of the lowercase “X” letter. The overall measurement of the printed font (including caps, ascenders, and descenders) is called the "body size." Letters such as "h" and "f" are the ascenders and letters such as "g" and "y" are the descenders. The baseline is the bottom of the "X."
To confirm that the type size meets the 20-point (K-8) requirements, measure from the bottom of the lower case letter (x, o, or e) to the top using a loupe with a scale of 0.005" increments. The measurement scale for 20 points equals (=) .135."
Note: 20-Point Font: Multiply 25.4 by .135 inches = 3.429 millimeters
A book dimension must be nine inches (9”) by twelve inches (12”) by 1-inch thick and must average a total of 150 pages. In the event a large-print book with a 20-point font cannot be produced within the 9” by 12” dimension, the book dimension may increase in size to ten inches (10”) by thirteen inches (13”), only with prior approval from the CSMT.
Good judgment and past experience must be used in determining the appropriate font and book size for use by low vision students. A library book dimension of eight inches (8”) by eleven inches (11”) must be used, if a 20-point font size can be maintained.
When possible, the finished large-print book must match the same size as the original book. Manipulation of the text and image may be made, if the dimension and size of the book is less than 9” by 12”. However, the large print book must maintain all other requirements.
