Virginia Law

A. Written instruments.

1. All inscriptions shall be:

a. Black;

b. Solid, where "solid" means the lines forming each letter do not have blank or light spots;

c. Dense, where "dense" means each letter or line is dark;

d. Uniform, where "uniform" means the entire letter or line is the same darkness;

e. Sharp, where "sharp" means the demarcation between each letter or line and the background is abrupt; and

f. Unglazed, where "unglazed" means inscriptions are nonreflective.

2. All signatures shall be original and in dark blue or black ink.

3. Printing size shall be the equivalent of nine-point or larger.

4. Typing shall be elite (12 characters per inch) or pica (10 characters per inch) or larger.

5. The font shall be the equivalent of a normal Arial or Courier.

B. Plats and other drawings.

1. Inscriptions shall be in ink or electrostatic process that produces a permanent image.

2. Color of original inscription shall be black or dark blue.

3. All inscriptions shall be:

a. Solid, where "solid" means the lines forming each letter do not have blank or light spots;

b. Dense, where "dense" means each letter or line is dark;

c. Uniform, where "uniform" means the entire letter or line is the same darkness;

d. Sharp, where "sharp" means the demarcation between each letter or line and the background is abrupt; and

e. Unglazed, where "unglazed" means inscriptions are nonreflective.

4. Lettering shall be no smaller than.09 inch (2.29 millimeters).

5. All signatures shall be:

a. Original, and

b. In dark blue or black ink.

6. No ghost lines shall be used.

7. All shading and screening shall be eliminated over written data.