Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography?
The art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate typefaces.
Where did the word "typography" originate from?
From the late 18th and 19th centuries as a break from traditional typography.
What does typography involve?
A sharp contrast between thick and think strokes and have thin,flat serifs.
What is a typeface?
Its creating and modifying type using a variety of illustration techniques.
What is another term for typeface?
Fonts
What is a character?
Individual symbols that make up a typeface.
What is type style?
Modifications to a typeface that create design variety while maintaining the visual style of a typeface.
What does type style "create" within a design?
bold,italic,condensed,roman,heavy.
What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
A imaginary line at the middle of the characters.
What is a base line and what does it indicate?
A imaginary line at the bottom of characters.
What is an ascender?
The part of a character that extends above the waist line.
What is a descender?
The part of a character that extends below the base line.
Describe a serif?
A small line used to finish off a main stroke of a letter, usually at the top and bottom of a character.
How can the size of the typeface be identified?
The top and bottom of a character.
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?
The point size measured in a unit.
How many points are in a pica?
12
What is body type and where can it be found?
Type sizes that range from 4 pt to 12 pt type. These are found where there is a lot of text.
What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
That it is a different font,bold,and different size.
What is display type and how is it used?
Type sizes above 12 pt. Typically these are used to draw attention to a message.
What is reverse type and when would it be used?
Consistes of white type on a solid black or darker color background. This helps the reader if the text is to small.
What is a typeface classification?
A basic system for classifying typefaces was devised in the 19th century to identify printers own work.
When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?
Mid 1400s, it is used for official documents like diplomas or certificates.
Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?
It resembles calligraphy of the time and are highly ornamental with elaborate thick to thin strokes.
When was Old Style invented and what was is based on?
Mid 1400s, it was based on ancient Roman inscriptions.
Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
It has wedge-shaped, angled serifs and a low contrast of their think/thin strokes.
When were formal scripts developed?
It was developed in the 17th and 18th century.
When were casual scripts developed?
They were developed in the 20th century.
Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?
They have varied strokes reminiscent of handwriting.
When was Modern typefaces developed and why?
It was developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries, and was to break from traditional typography.
Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?
It has a sharp contrast between think and thin strokes and have thin,flat serifs.
How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
They can be found in the 5th century, the Italian Renaissance make it obsolete.
When did they become popular?
They became popular in the 1920s.
What does "sans serif" mean?
It means without serifs.
Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?
The strokes are uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance.
When was Slab Serif developed and why?
It was developed in the 19th century, it was for advertising purposes.
Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?
It has uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs.
Describe Decorative typefaces?
These typefaces have the most distinctive design style.
Why were they developed?
Were developed for the specific purpose, or theme, in mind.
What are they best used for?
Their best used for larger point sizes, or display type.