Post #15

Define typography?

Typography is the way type looks like and its style. 

What is the difference between font and a typeface?

Font is a group of type with different sizes and styles while typeface is specific kind of type.

What is the waist line and what does it indicate? What is a base line and what does it 
indicate?

The waste line is top of the line of lowercase letters. The base line is the bottom of the line for lowercase letters.

What is counter?

Counter is the space in between letters such as o or p.

What is cap height?

Cap height is the highest line or point in a capital letter. 

What is x height?

X height is the height of lowercase letters.

What is an ascender?


Ascender is the lowercase letters heigh that is above the x height. 

What is a descender?

Descender is the lower part of the lowercase letters that extend beyond the baseline. 

Describe a serif?

A serif is the small decorative strokes on each letter of some of the different fonts or type. 

What is leading?

This is the space between the baseline of types. 

What is tracking? 

Tracking is the spaces between each letter and word. 

What is kerning

This is the space between each character and word. 

What is a point? How many points are in an inch? 


A point is the measure of size of each font. 1 inch is usually 72 point.  

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

PIca is the measure of unit of type size that is equal to the font of 12. There is 1 inch for every 6 picas. 

How many points are in a pica?

There are 12 points in a pica. 

When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?

Blackletter was invented in 1946 and was used in Europe or old textbooks such as in universities. 

Describe the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?

They are tall, narrow letters that do not connect with each other. 

When was Old Style invented and what was is based on?

Old style was invented 1501 and was based on calligraphy. 

Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?

Old style have thick, thin strokes and are more upright stress. 

When were formal scripts developed?

Formal scripts were developed in 17 and 18 century. 

When were casual scripts developed?

They were developed in the 20th Century. 

Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?

They connect and flow together. It is similar to cursive writing. 


When was Modern typefaces developed and why?

This was developed in 1784, they want to make certain words or parts of text more visible. 

Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?

Modern typeface has different thick and thin strokes. They are horizontal stretched and vertical axis. 

How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened? 

It could be found in 5th century B.C. and it was used for greek inscriptions. 

When did they become popular?

It became popular in the 18 Century. 

What does "sans serif" mean?

This means without serif. 

Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?

They have no variation between thick and thin strokes. They do not have stress in round strokes, and does not go above x height. 

When was Slab Serif developed and why?

Slab serif was developed in the early 1800s and was used for advertising. 

Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?

They are large above x height have very little variation in thick and thin strokes. 

Describe Decorative typefaces?

These could be fancy or cute types/fonts used for advertising.