When selecting the proper font size for video streaming in a house of worship, it’s important to consider visibility, clarity, and the overall worship experience. By following the basic guidelines you can achieve the right balance on all of your displays.
Understand the Viewing Platforms
For large screens in the sanctuary use a font that’s clearly visible to in-person attendees. Text should be readable from the back of the room. Many viewers will watch the stream on smartphones or tablets, so font size must be large enough to read comfortably on smaller screens. A medium-sized font works well for viewers using larger screens like laptops or televisions.
Font Size Recommendations
For song titles and scripture references, a font size between 48pt and 72pt is recommended. This ensures that the text is bold and easy to read at a glance.
For your main content like lyrics, sermon points, scriptural passages, use a size between 24pt and 36pt depending on how much text you need to display at once. Less text per screen often allows for a larger font.
For subtitles, if you need to show smaller information, such as speaker names or locations, a font size between 18pt and 24pt can work as long as it’s not the main focus.
Tips for Effective Font Usage
Font Contrast: Ensure the font color contrasts well with the background. For example, use white or light fonts on dark backgrounds, and dark fonts on light backgrounds.
Font Style: Choose simple, clean fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri. Avoid overly decorative fonts that can be hard to read on video streams.
Spacing: Make sure there’s enough line spacing (1.2 to 1.5 line height) between lines of text so it doesn’t feel cluttered or hard to follow.
Avoid All Caps: Using all capital letters can be harder to read and may feel harsh. Instead, use proper capitalization for a more readable flow.
Test Your Fonts: Always test your font on various devices (smartphones, tablets, TVs, and projectors) before the service to ensure readability across platforms.
Display Duration and Transitions
Duration: Keep text on screen long enough for viewers to comfortably read it. A good rule of thumb is about 3-5 seconds per line of text.
Transitions: Use subtle transitions between text slides (such as fades or simple slide-ins) to maintain focus without distracting the congregation.
Accessibility Considerations
For elderly or visually impaired members, you may need to increase font size slightly. Consider feedback from your congregation to adjust if needed.
Use bold fonts for better readability, and avoid italicized or thin fonts that can be difficult to see on certain screens. By keeping the font size appropriate for different viewing devices and ensuring legibility, your house of worship’s video stream will be more accessible and engaging for everyone.
