Type size for transit wayfinding

Demo model Metrics measured from glyph rasters Three linked fields — edit only two

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Typeface

Character set in use

Visual acuity model

Audience

Reading condition

Colours

Contrast and polarity factor Set from the colours above. Override by typing.

Horizontal angle to the sign plane

Geometry, m

sign

standing eye

seated eye

Size for

Horizontal distance

Type size

Cap height

—critical detail angle

—character angle

—x-height, mm

—detail ÷ em

—line of sight, m

—vertical angle

— ft / in · — m / cm — legibility index

10
sign rule

30
USSC avg

40
MUTCD max

Character height at actual size

Wayfinding

The diagram is not to scale vertically: the real angular size is a fraction of a degree. The 1:1 scale is correct only if the display is not zoomed. The preview uses the colours selected on the left.

Lines and information field

Text

Tracking, ‰ of type size

Side margins, squares

Line	chars	width, mm	width, cm	squares	+ margins	fits field

One square = type size × 0.57 mm. Standard fields: short 13 squares, long 16, double short 24. Line widths are measured with the real metrics of the available typeface; Cyrillic and Latin are counted separately — take the widest language, not the first line.

The model accounts for the detection threshold only, corrected for crowding and contrast. Lighting level, observer movement and glance time are not part of it — allow a margin on site.