Podcast #4 Typography

Define typography?
     The art of expressing ideas through the selection of appropriate typefaces.
Where did the word "typography" originate from?
     Greece
What does typography involve?
     Point size, fonts, serifs, and body type.
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 design variety while maintaining the visual style of the typeface.
What does type style "create" within a design?
      Variety and interest
What is the waist line and what does it indicate?
     It is  the imaginary line drawn at the middle of the characters, and indicates the highest point for under case letters.
What is a base line and what does it indicate?
      It is the imaginary line drawn at the bottom of characters, and is the lowest point for most letters, excluding "p" and "g".
What is an ascender?
     The part of the character that extends above the waist line.
What is a descender?
     The part of the character that extends below the waist line.
Describe a serif?
     It is a smaller line that used to finish off a main stroke of a letter, usually at the top of bottom of a letter.
How can the size of the typeface be identified?
     The point size.
What is a point?
     The vertical measurement used to identify the size of a typeface. It measures from the top of the ascender to the bottom of the descender.
How many points are in an inch?
     72
What is a pica and how many are in an inch?
     1 pica= 1 inch, and it is another way of measuring fonts.
How many points are in a pica?
    1 pica= 12 points
What is body type and where can it be found?
     Type sizes that range from 4 pt. to 12 pt, and is found in the body of a document.
What is the key to selecting appropriate typefaces to be used as body type?
      Readability
What is display type and how is it used?
       Anything above 16 pt. font and is used as a headline to draw attention.
What is reverse type and when would it be used?
     Consists of white type on a black of darker color background. Display type is necessary.
What is a typeface classification?
      A basic system for classifying typefaces was devised in the 19th century when printers. sought to identify a heritage for their craft.
When was Blackletter invented and how was it used?
      It was invented in the mid 1400s, and it was used along with the printing press.
Describer the characteristics of a Blackletter typeface?
     It resembles calligraphy, and toggles between thick and thin strokes.
When was Old Style invneted and what was is based on?
     It is based off of Blackletter, and was invented in ancient Roman times.
Describe the characteristics of an Old Style typeface?
     It closely resembles the "Times New Roman Font".
When were casual scripts developed?
     In the 20th century
Describe the characteristics of a Script typeface?
     In the type most letters descend with a right loop, and the feel is very flowy.When were formal scripts developed?

     Between the 17th and 18th centuries.
When was Modern typefaces developed and why?
     It was developed in the 18th and 19th centuries to rebel against the traditional and widely used formal script.
Describe the characteristics of a Modern typeface?
     The modern script is very bold and has lost majority of the lops and flow that are in the casual and formal.
How early can Sans Serif typefaces be found? What happened?
     As early as the 5th century i was found, until the Italian Renaissance, which made it become obsolete.
When did they become popular?
     In the 1920s
What does "sans serif" mean?
     "Without serifs"
Describe the characteristics of a Sans Serif typeface?
     No border or extra little line at the end points of a letter, it abruptly stops.
When was Slab Serif developed and why?      
     It was created in the 1900s for advertising purposes.
Describe the characteristics of a Slab Serif typeface?
     It has wider, more meaty serifs.
Describe Decorative typefaces?
     They are very showy and distinctive and mostly are fit for only a few appropriate occasions.
Why were they developed?
      They did not fit into any other category.
What are they best used for?
     For special occasions and headlines.