RS, Author, Novelist, Prosaist<p><span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://mastodon.social/@rscottjones" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>rscottjones</span></a></span></p><blockquote><p>[Images of a rather unique and flamboyant mixed font layout in a book of unstated vintage] somehow [] got [] approved and actually printed</p></blockquote><p>A certain conservative conformity runs through the industry. It leads to a lack of <em>noticeable</em> beauty, beauty in rendering as distinct to content. Publishers by their actions train readers to expect extreme transparency and react badly if what they find is not "plain." Well, "plain" does cost less: In labor spent, in deep thought expended to achieve something that looks interesting without sacrificing readability or overpowering content. Simply because something like this is rarely done–or rarely done well like this was—does not mean it lacks merit. This was not done by an amateur running wild in a Mac layout program.</p><p>I would approve it. </p><p>The hint of difference would draw me in if I cracked the book in a store, and, considering the genre, the publisher knew it.</p><p>I like the fonts and I like the layout. The choice of title font lends a distinctive1800s pen feel to the whole composition (although, admittedly, the 66 relies on context to be legible). Since the title carries little information, it can afford whimsy. The designer chose the remainder of the fonts to be easy to read; they distinguish themselves from each other while structuring the information together with consistent use of emphasis and chapter layouts. I have no problem with the mountainous grey background. It evokes a sense of place, of a distinctive "skyline", namely that of the badlands of Arizona, at the start of each chapter. I have no problem reading this whatsoever, despite being dyslexic. Were there any plates or inline photos? My guess is the background helps obviate the need, or the lack thereof depending of the perspective of the target buyer, which lowers the cost of printing.</p><p>Overall, I find this pleasing. It screams Arizona, the old west, and adventure!</p><p>Aesthetics and readability <em>can</em> coexist together without the choice of the bland "same old same old" most publishers deliver like automatons without lack of thought or sense of design. It is unnecessary to follow the same design rules that everybody else follows, especially when they are arbitrary. They are. Arbitrary. Make no mistake. Mind you, conceiving a good design and doing it well requires <em>thought.</em></p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/BoostingIsSharing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BoostingIsSharing</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/design" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>design</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/bookstodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookstodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/write" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>write</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/author" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>author</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writingCommunity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writingCommunity</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/writersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>writersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/publishing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>publishing</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/bookdesign" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bookdesign</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/font" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>font</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/fonts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>fonts</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/layout" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>layout</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/book" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>book</span></a> <a href="https://eldritch.cafe/tags/books" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>books</span></a></p>