Legibility of 3D printed typography at smaller sizes

Area of Science:

• Graphic Design
• Materials Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• 3D printing technology enables custom typeface creation.
• Investigating the legibility of small 3D printed text is essential for practical applications.
• Previous research has not comprehensively evaluated the impact of various parameters on 3D printed typeface usability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the usability and legibility of 3D printed typeface characters at smaller dimensions.
• To identify key factors influencing the quality and readability of 3D printed text.
• To provide data-driven insights for optimizing 3D printed typography.

Main Methods:

• Experimental investigation involving two letter modeling software programs, three typefaces, three type sizes, two weight options, and two printing materials.
• Visual and image analysis of printed samples.
• Laboratory and testing chamber legibility tests measuring reading speed and text comprehension using pangrams.

Main Results:

• Typeface weight option and type size were the most significant factors influencing letter recognition and visual evaluation across all tested typefaces.
• Type size demonstrated statistical significance in legibility.
• Typographic tonal density was found to be influenced by the typeface and the printing material used.

Conclusions:

• Weight option, type size, and material are critical variables affecting reading speed and text comprehension in 3D printed typefaces.
• Optimizing these parameters is key to enhancing the usability of small-scale 3D printed text.
• The findings offer practical guidance for designers and researchers working with 3D printed typography.