introduction
construction
weight
contrast
colour
stripes
measures

A big problem concerning legibility is formed by stripes on a sports shirt. The easiest way to solve this problem is to apply a big square or oval on the back in one colour, on which the numbers are printed. But this solution almost always destroys the striped pattern. In my opinion this should be avoided because it’s an offence of the specific team colours.

To achieve an acceptable legibility it’s sometimes necessary to draw a bold contour around the figures on a striped shirt. The nicest effect is obtained when the contour has the same colour as one of the stripes. Whether the shirt numbers should be black, white or another colour depends on the specific colours of the shirt.

In this way shirt numbers on striped shirts can be made legible from a distance of at least 60 meters. In most cases this should be enough for most sports games.

Striped shirt patterns are bad for legibility, especially when the colours of the stripes have a big light-dark contrast (upper two rows). Applying a contour improves legiblity. When the contrast of the stripes is low (lower rows) the legibility is almost as good as it is on plain shirts.