Typography Worksheet:
Write out the answers to these questions in complete
sentences.
Label and define all of the above numbers:
1. The ascender line is the imaginary line which determines
the height of ascenders.
2. The base line is the imaginary line on which all characters rest. Descenders
hand below the base line.
3. The ascender height is the x-height plus the height of the ascending stroke.
It is the distance between the base line and the ascender line.
4. The cap height is the height of capital letters. It is the distance between
the base line and the cap line.
5. The descender is the stroke of a letter which dips below the base line, as
in the letters g and j.
6. The ascender is the stroke of a letter which rises above the mean line, as
in the letter d, f and k.
7. The x-height is the distance between the flat top and bottom of a lower case
letter which has no ascender or descender, such as x. It is the distance
between the base line and the mean line. The curved tops and bottoms of the p,
o, and g extend beyond these lines so that they appear visually to fit the
x-height.
8. The cap line is the imaginary line which determines the height of capital
letters.
9. The mean line is the imaginary line which determines the height of lowercase
letters. Ascenders rise above the mean line.
10. The descender line is the imaginary
line which defines the bottom reach of descenders.
Define Serif: The fine line that extends from the top and
bottom of letters making them easier to read; used for the body text of a book.
Define Sans-Serif: A typeface that is straight with no serifs of small
extensions on letters; generally used for headers.
When do you use Antique Fonts? Antique fonts can be used to evoke a period feel
since they have a long history.
At most how many words should be Decorative Fonts at a time? No more than three
words at a time should be in decorative font. What does a script font resemble? A
script font resembles handwriting.
What element of design does script represent? (From elements lesson) Script
represents typeface.
Why use Symbol Fonts? Symbol fonts can complement specific fonts.
Define Typography: Typography is the art and process of
arranging type for a variety of media purposes.
Why do designers need a solid foundation in typography? By understanding the
underlying message that your choice of text contains, you will become more
effective as you design and layout projects containing words and phrases.
Kerning: The space located between individual letters of a word
Leading: The space between the lines of texts
Tracking: The white space throughout the text body
When do you use the following?
Center Alignment: Used to draw attention and is used a majority of the time for
headlines or titles.
Right Alignment: Used for corporate business letters, return address labels,
business cards, and a variety of other applications where a formal style of
alignment is needed.
Justified Alignment: Usually reserved
for newspaper print and body text for textbooks.
What is remembered: good styling or bad styling? Good
styling is remembered.
What is legibility? Legibility is the quality of being readable or
distinguished by the eye.
Type size smaller than 7pt is: Type size smaller than 7pt is difficult to read.
Type size smaller than 3pts is: Type size smaller than 3pt is illegible.
Type range for legible type is: Type range for legible type is between 8pt and
14pt.
What do you use for long passages? Use 9pt or 10pt for long passages.
What case do we use for Body? Use between 8pt and 14pt for body.
What is measure? Measure is the width of the text column.
What can you tell me about Ragged Edges? Ragged Edges do not look good in text.
What are some ways text can be used and what font types do
you use for each?
Text can be used to create different shapes and illustrations. Hand drawn
letters can be used to create illustrations. Arabic is more flowing and organic
which allows the designer to create decorative designs.
**Read ALL of it.
Answer the following:
Why is choosing and using the right font important? (Two
reasons) The right typeface can encourage people to read your message. The
wrong typeface or bad typography can make your message go unread.
What are the two most important things to remember? Type
should not overpower the text. Think about your reader and the feeling you want
to convey so you can choose a typeface that fits.
What is appropriate? What do you have to consider? Appropriate typeface conveys
the feeling you want the reader to have. You have to consider the audience that
will read your work.
Tell me the rules: (there
are 10)
- Body text should be
between 10 and 12 point, with 11 point best for printing to 300 dot-per-inch
printers. Use the same typeface, typesize, and leading for all your body
copy.
- Use enough leading (or
line-spacing). Always add at least 1 or 2 points to the type size.
- Don’t make your lines too
short or too long. Optimum size: Over 30 characters and under 70
characters.
- Make paragraph beginnings
clear. Use either an indent or block style for paragraphs. Don’t use both.
Don’t use neither, either.
- Use only one space after a
period, not two.
- Don’t justify text unless
you have to. If you justify text you must use hyphenation.
- Don’t underline anything,
especially not headlines or subheads since lines separate them from the
text with which they belong.
- Use italics instead of
underlines.
- Don’t set long blocks of
text in italics, bold, or all caps because they’re harder to read.
- Leave more space above
headlines and subheads than below them, and avoid setting them in all
caps. Use subheads liberally to help readers find what they’re looking
for.
