Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography?
~the art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate type faces
Where did the word "typography" originate from?
~Greek words: "form" [typo] and "writing" [graphy]
What does typography involve?
~Selection of appropriate fonts; sizes, line spacings, spacing of the letters
What is a typeface?
~distinct visual symbols; distinctive design of visual symbols that are used to make a image or design
What is another term for typeface?
~fonts
What is a character?
~A symbol that makes up a typeface; letters, numeral, punctuation marks, etc.
What is type style?
~ Modifications in a typeface that create design variety while maintaining the visual style of the typeface: bolding, italic, underlining
What does type style "create" within a design?
~variation
What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
~the middle line that is at the top of the lowercase letters
What is a base line and what does it indicate?
~the bottom line where everything sits
What is an ascender?
~lower case letters that pass the waist line
What is a descender?
~lower case letters that pass the base line
Describe a serif?
~the top stroke/ end of some letters of some fonts that conclude the character
How can the size of the typeface be identified?
~using points
What is a point?
~the measurement you use to determine the size of a font
How many points are in an inch?
~72
What is a pica and how many are in an inch?
~a unit of measurement used before they had computers; 6
How many points are in a pica?
~12
What is body type and where can it be found?
~smaller type sizes that are less than or equal to12 pt
What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
~readability; you need to make sure that you can read what you are making or if someone else can
What is display type and how is it used?
~headlines or sub headlines; above 14pt; used to show the main idea
What is reverse type and when would it be used?
~when white type is on a black or darker backgroung, like a stop sign; get people's attention
What is a typeface classification?
~a way of organizing fonts
When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?
~mid 1400s; used for the printing press
Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?
~resembles caligraphy; highly ornamental with elaborate thick to thin strokes
When was Old Style invneted and what was is based on?
~15th and 16th centuries; ancient Roman inscriptions
Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
~angled/wedged serifs; difference in strokes but not as drastic as Blackletter
When were formal scripts developed?
~around 17th and 18th centuries; resembles a handwriting
When were casual scripts developed?
~20th century
Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?
~serifs; not as much thick and thin
When was Modern typefaces developed and why?
~18th and 19th centuries; everything was very formal, this was the new radical font
Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?
~thick and thin strokes; there are serifs that are perfectly horizontal
How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
~15th century[with writing]; there wasn't any place to have Sans serif
When did they become popular?
~in later times - 1900s
What does "sans serif" mean?
~No serifs
Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?
~Its strokes are uniform in weight and have a monotone appearance
When was Slab Serif developed and why?
~19th century; for advertisements
Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?
~a cross between modern and sans serif; uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs
Describe Decorative typefaces?
~distinct font styles; anything that can't fit into the other groups
Why were they developed?
~for specific themes or designs; a more playful design
What are they best used for?
~Large point sizes or display type