Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography?

The art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate typefaces.

Where did the word "typography" originate from?
Greek words "typos" meaning form, and "Graphy" meaning writing.

What does typography involve?
The selection of appropriate fonts, type spacing, and spacing between letters.

What is a typeface?

distinctive designs of visual symbols that are used to compose a printed image or design.

What is another term for typeface?

fonts.

What is a character?

individual symbols that make up a typeface.

What is type style?

modifications in a typeface that create design variety while maintaining the visual style of the typeface.

What does type style "create" within a design?

variety.

What is the waist line and what does it indicate?

Imaginary line drawn in the middle of the characters.

What is a base line and what does it indicate?

an imaginary line drawn at the bottom of the characters.

What is an ascender?

the part of the character that extends above the waist line.

What is a descender?

the part of the character that extends below the base line.

Describe a serif?

a smaller line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter, usually at the top and bottom of the character.

How can the size of the typeface be identified?

Point Size.

What is a point?

the vertical measurement used to identify the size of a typeface.

How many points are in an inch?

72.

What is a pica and how many are in an inch?
A unit of measure that is typical of newspapers. There are 6 in an inch.

How many points are in a pica?
12 points in 1 pica.

What is body type and where can it be found?

type sizes ranging from 4pt to 12pt.

What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
readability.

What is display type and how is it used?

type sizes above 12pt. Used to attract attention. (headlines, sub-headlines, etc.)

What is reverse type and when would it be used?

white text on a solid black or dark colored background.

What is a typeface classification?

a system for classifying typefaces, devised in the 19th century.

When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?

Mid 1400s. Used with earliest printing presses.

Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?

highly ornamental, with thin to thick strokes.

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

15th, 16th centuries, based off of Roman inscriptions and created to replace Blackletter typefaces.

Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?

wedge-shaped, angled serifs and a low contrast of their thick/thin strokes.

When were formal scripts developed?

17th and 18th century.

When were casual scripts developed?

20th Century.

Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?

based on forms made with flexible brushes or pens and have varied strokes reminiscent of handwriting.

When was Modern typefaces developed and why?

Late 18th and 19th century, as a radical break from traditional typography.

Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?

sharp contrast between thick and thin strokes. and have thin flat serifs.

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

5th Century. It became obsolete in the 20th century.

When did they become popular?

1920s.

What does "sans serif" mean?

without serifs.

Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?

uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance.

When was Slab Serif developed and why?

19th century for advertising purposes.

Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?

Uniform line weight, and thicker square serifs.

Describe Decorative typefaces?

They have the most distinctive design style.

Why were they developed?
with a specific purpose in mind.

What are they best used for?

Larger point sizes or display type.