Typography Worksheet:
Use the links below to complete the
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 hang 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 letters 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. Asc - enders rise above the mean line.
10. The descender line is the
imaginary which defines the bottom reach of descenders.
Define Serif: 1. the
fine line that extends from the top and bottom making them easier to read, used
for the body text of a book. 2. A style
of typeface which has serifs
Define Sans-Serif: A typeface that is straight with no serifs or small
extensions on letters; generally used for headers.
When do you use Antique Fonts? When you want to evoke a periodic feel or are
talking about something historic.
At most how many words should be Decorative Fonts at a time? Three
What does a script font resemble? Handwriting
Why use Symbol Fonts? To provide embellishments to text or complement a
specific text
Define Typography: the art and of arranging in order to make
language visible
Why do designers need a solid foundation in typography? Everything you touch,
see and create is impacted by the use of writing styles and techniques.
Designers need to have a solid foundation so they can be more effective as they
design and layout projects containing words.
Kerning: the space located between
individual letters of a word
Leading: the space between the lines of
text
Tracking: the creation of “rivers” of white space throughout the text body
When do you use Center Alignment? Headlines or Titles such as Newspaper
headers, book titles, and report titles
when do you use Right Alignment? For corporate business letters, return address
labels, business cards, and anything going for a professional look
When do you use Justified Alignment? Newspaper
print and body text for textbooks
What is remembered, good styling, and bad styling? Why? Bad typography sticks with a person because
it’s intrusive and makes you angry because it looks so terrible.
What is legibility? The quality of being readable or distinguishable by the
eye
Type size smaller than 7pt is: difficult to read
Type size smaller than 3pts is: utterly illegible
Type range for legible type is: 8pt and 14pt
What size do you use for long passages? 9pt and 10pt
What case do we use for Body? Lowercase
What is measure? The width of the text column
What can you tell me about Ranged/Ragged Edges? Ranged edges can be aligned in
the left-hand margin (ragged right) this is the most common and most legible as
well as aesthetically pleasing. Ranged text can also be aligned in the right
hand margin (ragged left) which is hard to read at speed because the eye
struggles to find the start of each line. However, it can be stylish for short
amounts of text.
What are some ways text can be used as images? Summarize
what you see.
You can arrange text to be in the shape of an item as simple
as a Christmas tree to something as complex as an actual person. The simpler
shapes are easier to read because you aren’t so focused on what the shape is,
and the beginnings of each line are easy to find. The chicken and human are
hard to read because the text is so dense and jumbled.
**Read ALL of it.
Answer the following: **
Why is choosing and using the right font important? Give YOUR opinion. You need to choose a font that will appeal to
your audience and choosing a font that doesn’t do that will either bore them or
give them the wrong impression. You also need to make sure your font is
legible; it isn’t all about looking pretty.
What are the two most important things to remember? 1. Type
is on the page to serve the text. It should make the words easy to read and
provide a suitable background. Type should not overpower the text. 2. There are
no good and bad typefaces; there are appropriate and inappropriate typefaces.
Think about your reader and the feeling you want to convey, then choose a
typeface that fits.
What is appropriate? What do you have to consider? You have to use your own judgment to know
what is appropriate. You have to consider your audience, who you
will be presenting to. You have to pick a font they will be able to read and
understand, but not be bored or overwhelmed by.
Tell me the rules: (there
are 10)
1.
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, type size, and leading for all
your body copy.
2.
Use enough leading (or line-spacing). Always add
at least 1 or 2 points to the type size. Example; if you’re using 10 point
type, use 12 point leading. Automatic line height will do this for you—never
use less than this or your text will be cramped and hard to read.
3.
Don’t make your lines too short or too long. Optimum size; Over 30 characters and under 70 characters.
4. Make paragraph beginnings clear. Use either an indent or block style for paragraphs. Don't use both. Don't use neither, either.
5. Use only one space after a period, not two.
6. Don't justify text unless you have to. If you justify text you must use hyphentation.
7. Don't underline anything, especially not headlines or sub heads since lines seperate them for the text with which they belong.
8. Use italics instead of underlines.
9. Don't set long blocks of text in italics, bold, or all caps because they're harder to read.
10. Leave more space above headlines and sub heads than below them, and avoid setting them in all caps. Use sub heads liberally to help readers find what they're looking for.
