Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Podcast #4 Typography

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




Where did the word "typography" originate from?
-the greek words "form" and "writing."



What does typography involve?
-the selection of choosing appropriate fonts, size, line spacing, and spacing between letters



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



What is another term for typeface?
-font



What is a character?
-individual symbols that make up a typeface



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




What does type style "create" within a design?
-bold, italic, condensed, roman, heavy



What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
-the imaginary line drawn at the middle of the characters



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 waist line



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



Describe a serif?
-smaller 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?
-by the vertical measurement; measures from the top of the ascender to the bottom of the descender



What is a point?
-a unit that measures the size of a font


How many points are in an inch?
-72



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



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 through 12 pt



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 12 pt.


What is reverse type and when would it be used?
-consists of white type on a solid black or darker color background; if text is too small, reverse type can be difficult on readers eye.



What is a typeface classification?
-a basic system for classifying typefaces



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



Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?
-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?
-based on ancient Roman inscriptions and created to replace Blackletter typefaces; 15th and 16th centuries



Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
-wedge shaped, thicker in the middle, have a difference in their strokes; a little bit thick and a little thin; has serifs


When were formal scripts developed?
-17th and 18th century




When were casual scripts developed?
-20th century






Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?
-flexible and have varied strokes reminiscent of handwriting



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



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



How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
-5th century; italian renaissance return to old style made the san serifs classification obsolete in the 20th century



When did they become popular?
-1920's



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?
-has a uniform line weight and thicker, square serifs



Describe Decorative typefaces?
-have the most distinctive design and style


Why were they developed?
-for decorative purposes (party, event, etc.)


What are they best used for?
-pictures of objects, animals, etc. into the character design and large point size

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