Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography? The art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate typefaces


Where did the word "typography" originate from?
greek


What does typography involve?
creating and modifying type using a variety of illustration techniques


What is a typeface?
distinctive designs of visual symbols that are used to compose a printed image/design


What is another term for typeface?
fonts


What is a character?
individual symbols that make up a typeface; letters, numerals, punctuation


What is type style?
modifications in a typeface that create design variety while maintaining the visual side of the typeface 


What does type style "create" within a design?


bold, italic, condensed, roman, heavy, regular


What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
imaginary line drawn at the middle of the characters; key terms and definitions that are important to understand as you explore as you explore typography


What is a base line and what does it indicate?
imaginary line drawn at the bottom of the characters;


What is an ascender?
the part of the character that extends above the waistline


What is a descender?
the part of the character that below the base line


Describe a serif?
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?
it measures from the top of the ascender to the bottom of the descender


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 type size and line length; 6


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 - 12 pt type. These sizes are found in places where there is a lot of text to be read.


What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
keep the same typeface the whole time and use a small, easy to read, must be readable


What is display type and how is it used?
type sizes above 12 pt. Typically, these sizes are used to draw attention to a message (headlines, etc)


What is reverse type and when would it be used?
consists of white type on a solid black or darker color background. If the text is too small, reverse type can be difficult on the reader's eye. Display type is necessary


What is a typeface classification?
a basic system for classifying, devised in the 19th century when printers sought to identify a heritage for their own craft


When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?
mid 1400s; used in official documents such as diplomas, certificates, formal invitations


Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface? resembles calligraphy, highly ornamental





When was Old Style invneted and what was is based on?
based on roman inscriptions and created to replace blackletter typefaces


Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
have wedge-shaped, angles serifs and a low contrast of their thick or thin strokes


When were formal scripts developed?
17th 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 trokes reminiscent handwriting


When was Modern typefaces developed and why?
late 18th and 19th century as a radical break from traditional typograghy of the time


Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?
sharp contrast between think and thin and have thin, flat serifs


How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
5th century; the italian renaissance returned to Old Style


When did they become popular?
1920s


What does "sans serif" mean?
"without serifs"


Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?
It strokes are uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance


When was Slab Serif developed and why?
19th century for advertising


Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?
it has a uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs


Describe Decorative typefaces?
have the most distinctive design style, and were developed with a specific purpose, or theme, in mind


Why were they developed?
to add pictures of objects, animals, into the character design


What are they best used for?
larger point sizes or display type