Post #11

Define typography?

Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable, and appealing when displayed.
What is the difference between font and a typeface?

Typeface is the design of the alphabet--the shape of the letters that make up the typestyle. Font is the digital file that contains/describes the typeface.

What is the waist line and what does it indicate? What is a base line and what does it indicate?

The waist line is the invisible or imaginary horizontal rule that indicates the top of the body height of the lowercase letters, and is also called the x-height. A base line is the imaginary line upon which a line of text rests.

What is counter?

A counter is a negative space within a character that may be fully or partially enclosed.

What is cap height?

Cap height is the height of a capital letter above the baseline for a particular typeface.

What is x height?

X-height is the distance between the baseline of a line of type and tops of the main body of lower case letters.

What is an ascender?

An ascender is the part of a lowercase letter that rises above x-height.

What is a descender?

A descender is the part of a lowercase letter that extends below the main body of the letter.

Describe a serif?

A serif is a slight projection finishing off a stroke of a letter in certain typefaces.

What is leading?

Leading is the spacing between lines.

What is tracking?

Tracking refers to the amount of space between a group of letters to affect density in a line or block of text.

What is kerning?

Kerning is the process of adjusting the spacing between characters in a proportional font.

What is a point? How many points are in an inch?

A point is the smallest whole unit of measure in typography.

What is a pica and how many are in an inch?

A typographic unit of measure, and there are about 6 picas in an inch.

How many points are in a pica?

There are 12 points in a pica.

When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?

Blackletter was invented in approximately 1150. It was used to print the Guthenburg Bible.

Describe the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?

The Blackletter typeface is recognizable by its dramatic thin and thick strokes.

When was Old Style invented and what was is based on?

Old Style was invented in the 15th and 16th centuries and was based on the handwriting of earlier Italian scholars and scribes.

Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?

Old Style types are characterized by greater contrast between thick and thin strokes, and are generally speaking, sharper in appearance, more refined.

When were formal scripts developed?

Formal scripts were developed late in the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.

When were casual scripts developed?

Casual scripts were developed in the early twentieth century and with the advent of photocomposition in the early-1950s their number rapidly increased.

Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?

Script typefaces are based upon the varied and often fluid stroke created by handwriting.

When was Modern typefaces developed and why?

Modern typefaces were developed in the late 19th century because it was a reaction against the perceived decadence of typography and design at the time.

Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?

The hallmark of early modern typography is the sans-serif typeface.

How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?

Sans Serif typefaces can be found as early as the 18th century. They became popular in printed media in the early 19th century as the omission of serifs was a significant departure from hundreds of years of tradition in printed text.

When did they become popular?

They became popular in printed media in the early 19th century.

What does "sans serif" mean?

“Sans” means “without” and “serif” comes from the Dutch word schreef meaning "line".

Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?

A Sans Serif typeface does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes.

When was Slab Serif developed and why?

Slab Serif was developed in 1815 because the printing of advertising material began to expand in the early nineteenth century, and new and notionally more attention-grabbing typefaces were needed.

Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?

It is characterized by thick, block-like serifs.

Describe Decorative typefaces?

Script fonts, fonts with extreme features such as swashes or exaggerated serifs, and any fonts designed to be used at larger than body copy sizes can be described as decorative type.