Comparison of 6 Types of Packaging Fonts: Serif / Sans Serif / Calligraphic / Handwritten / Decorative / Chinese-English Pairings — the most common pitfall for printing companies is [font too small], making it difficult for older people to read
💡 💡 At a Glance
The font size on packaging for elderly health supplements is only 2mm, making the instructions illegible to older consumers. Complaints were filed with the market regulation authorities, resulting in a requirement for a minimum font size of 4mm. This article provides a detailed comparison of six font styles—serif, sans-serif, calligraphic, handwritten, decorative, and Chinese-English combinations. Printers are most likely to run into trouble because of fonts that are too small for elderly consumers to read. The minimum font size for pharmaceutical packaging and elderly health supplement packaging is 4mm.
In July 2024, a client who sold senior health supplements contacted us. The client's original words were:
“The font size on the packaging for our elderly health supplements was only 2mm, making the instructions difficult for older people to read, so they complained to the market supervision administration. The drug administration required a minimum font size of 4mm, and we had a new batch produced.”
This is a real case of typographic failure. Before accepting product packaging orders, printing companies must understand the characteristics and applicable scenarios of 6 font categories.
Type 1: Serif Fonts
Features: The strokes end with decorative short horizontal lines (serifs), giving the letterforms a dignified, classical appearance. Representative fonts: Source Han Serif, Founder Qingketon Yue Song, Times New Roman, Garamond.
Applicable scenarios:
Printing note: Serif fonts have uneven stroke weights, making them difficult to read at small sizes (<8pt) in print. A minimum font size of 10pt or larger is recommended for serif fonts.
Typeface Category 2: Sans-Serif Fonts
Features: No embellishments at the ends of strokes; modern, clean letterforms. Representative typefaces: Source Han Sans, PingFang, Helvetica, Roboto, Inter.
Applicable scenarios:
Printer's note: Sans-serif fonts look good on screens, but at small sizes (<6pt), they appear [soulless]. We recommend using sans-serif fonts at a minimum size of 8pt.
Type 3 font: Calligraphy
Features: Traditional calligraphic style with elegant letterforms. Representative fonts: HWK jinwen typeface, HY Runyuan, HY Nangong typeface, and Maobi typeface.
Applicable scenarios:
Printer’s note: Calligraphic fonts have complex strokes, which can result in uneven ink coverage during printing. We recommend that calligraphic font strokes not be too thin (thickness >0.5mm).
Type 4 Font: Handwritten
Features: Handwritten style with cute/friendly letterforms. Representative fonts: Hanyi Le Miao Ti, Founder Handwriting Ti, Pacifico, Caveat.
Applicable scenarios:
Printer note: Handwritten fonts are irregular, so character shapes may shift during printing. For handwritten fonts, use a minimum size of 12pt or above; smaller text may become an illegible mess.
Type 5 Fonts: Decorative
Features: A distinctive design style with decorative elements in the letterforms. Representative typefaces: DIN Condensed, Bebas Neue, Cooper Black, Impact.
Applicable scenarios:
Printer's note: Decorative fonts have poor readability and are not suitable for body text. It is recommended that decorative fonts be used only for headings or logos, while body text should use standard fonts.
Type 6 Font: Chinese-English Pairing
Features: Chinese and English fonts are used together. Common pairings: Source Han Serif + Times New Roman, Source Han Sans + Helvetica, Hanyi Nangongti + Bebas Neue.
Applicable scenarios:
Printer’s note: The key to pairing Chinese and English text is to maintain consistent font weight. If the Chinese uses bold (700 weight), the English should also be bold. If the Chinese uses light (300 weight), the English should also be light.
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Further Reading
FAQ
What is the minimum font size for senior health products?
National regulations require 4mm (5mm in some provinces). Below 4mm, elderly users cannot read the instructions; complaints filed with the market regulation bureau will require rectification.
Do calligraphy fonts blur during printing?
Yes. Calligraphy fonts have complex strokes that tend to cause uneven ink distribution. It is recommended that the strokes not be too thin (thickness >0.5mm), and to use matte film or touch film for lamination.
How to choose fonts for Chinese-English pairing?
Weight consistency. When Chinese uses bold, English must also use bold; when Chinese uses light, English must also use light. Recommended pairings: Source Han Sans + Helvetica, Source Han Serif + Times New Roman.
Can decorative fonts be used for body text?
Not recommended. Decorative fonts have poor readability and should only be used for headlines or LOGOS. Use regular fonts (sans-serif or serif) for body text.
Can printers open files with unconverted fonts?
They can open them, but the fonts will default to system fonts (such as Song typeface). If the client's design file uses commercial fonts, the printer's computer may not have them installed. It is strongly recommended that clients convert fonts to outlines.
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