Project 1
Jennifer Tan Qing Ni (0333137)
Typography
Project 1
LECTURES
LECTURE 7: TYPES OF FONTS
week 7 (10.10.18)
TYPES OF FONTS
This week, we learnt the types of fonts in typography. Fonts can come in many forms however because of the large variety of fonts, it is categorised into different categories.
- serif
- san serif
- display
- script
- text
- mono-spaced
- dingbats
Serifs
Serifs are the most common our of all. They are often used in headlines. They are often referred to their little feet or arms that that hand off the end of letter strokes.
There are 3 subs categories in the serif font. They are:
- old-style
- modern
- square serif
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| Figure 7.1 Types of serifs |
San Serifs
San serifs are just fonts without the serifs. They normally have an even stroke weigh, which creates contrast for the letters. It can give a more modern look but it can sometimes be hard to read when compared to serif fonts.
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| Figure 7.2 Types of San serifs |
Display
Displays can be used as attention getting headline fonts due to their decorative characteristics. However, its rarely used as a body copy font.
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| Figure 7.3 Display fonts. |
Script
Script fonts are designed to mimic handwriting, therefore, the letters are designed to touch one another. They are normally used as a traditional type and normally incorporated in formal invitations. It should never be used in capitals.
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| Figure 7.4 Script |
Text fonts have an 'old world' feel due to the influences of hand drawn letters made by early monks for religious books. Text fonts are mostly used for certificates, diplomas and invitations. Like the script fonts, it should not be used in all caps.
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| Figure 7.5 Text |
Most fonts are proportionally spaced, in which smaller characters take up less space rather than larger ones. In contrast, mono space fonts, which are usually typewriter-style fonts, taking up the same amount of space regardless of the actual letter.
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| Figure 7. 6 Mono Spaced |
Dingbats
Dingbats are symbols that are small pieces of art to beautify the design the text or page. Theres not only Zapf Dignbats and Wingdings (common dingbats), theres still a lot more designs other.
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| Figure 7.7 Dingbats |
Font styles is refers to an individual font's weight. eg: regular, italic, bold or black. So when the term font style is used, it refers to the weight of the individual font.
Typeface
A typeface is when the entire set of weights within one family. Sometimes referred to as the the type family or font family.
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| Figure 7.8 Typefaces |
Due to the advancement of technology and easy access to laptops and computers, we are able to do many things when we are formatting text. Because of this, many people begin abusing the typographic conventions, and being very oblivious about it. Considerations can be taken.
Underlines
The underline should be lowered so that they do not touch the characters as this lowers the readability. There are 2 types of underlines, one that effects the entire sentence and one that affect the words only.
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| Figure 7.9 underlines |
Small Caps and All Caps
Small capitals are good for subheads or for the first line of a paragraph. Text set in All Caps should be used in short headlines or Subheads. All caps should never be used for long sentences and for emphasis.
Special-Purpose Style
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| Figure 7.10 Small caps and All caps |
Many formatting styles exist within softwares for making footnotes, references and mathematical formulas. These tend to be embedded or nested within the tools within the section and a lay user may not be aware of its functions.
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| Figure 7.11 Special-Purpose Style |
Text Scaling
Some programs allow the suer to create a pseudo-condensed or pseudo-extended font by horizontally or vertically squeezing or stretching a font so the original design of the font is being distorted which is something we should never do. This in the end just makes the message appear cheap.
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| Figure 7.12 Scaling texts #1 |
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| Figure 7.13 Text Scaling #2 |
Outline and Shadow
This is another style that tends to be abused a lot. Something we should use when we are experienced.
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| Figure 7.14 Outline and Shadow |
Week 8: There are no lectures this week so we proceeded to project 1.
INSTRUCTIONS
PROJECT 1
WEEK 7
For this week, we were taught to use InDesign for our first project in which we take a passage and aligned in different directions. Left, centre, right and justified. We were first taught the importance of alignment and kerning. We then moved on to doing kerning and aligning the passage on our own.
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| Figure 7.15 Justified Alignment |
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| Figure 7.16 Right Alignment |
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| Figure 7.17 Right alignment |
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| Figure 7.18 Center Allignment |
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| Figure 7.19 Center Alignment |
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| Figure 7.20 Right Alignment |
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| Figure 7.21 Justified Alignment |
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| Figure 7.22 Right Alignment |
WEEK 8
We them moved on to putting type expressions next to the page.
Below was my first attempt of the type expressions.
Page #1
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Page #2
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| Figure 8.1 First attempt |
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| Figure 8.2 2nd attempt, I put the direction in the arrow. |
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| Figure 8.3 3rd Attempt, where I changed a few things so that it has a more readable flow. |
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| Figure 8.4 1st attempt |
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Figure 8.5 2nd Attempt |
Figure 8.6 3rd page
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| Figure 8.7 4th page |
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| Figure 8.8 last page |
After completing this exercise, we then had to print it out at a printing center. Below is the final outcome.
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| Figure 8.9 First page |
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| Figure 8.10 2nd and 3rd page |
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| Figure 8.11 4th and 5th page |
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| Figure 8.12 6th and 7th page |
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| Figure 8.13 8th (final page) |
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| Figure 8.14 Thumbnail |
Below is the pdf file.
FEEDBACK
WEEK 7
For my left and right alignment needed improvement and kerning as they were awkward spaces when for the passages. My centre and justified alignments had no problems and they were good.
WEEK 8
For my type expressions, Mr Vinod and Mr Shamsul thought that they were quite interesting. Although I expressed almost every word, I somehow made it work. The flow is there but could be better. After some alterations, I was also told that I chose the wrong words to express and that I should choose only some so its visually more pleasing. My composition and alignment could also be better as the placement of some words is kind off wrong.
FINDINGS
WEEK 7
I found out that when it comes to typography in messages or passages, the placement is really important and that kerning is very powerful.
WEEK 8
This week, when getting the feedback for the type expressions, I realised that not all the words needs to be expressed. Only certain words needs to be expressed to give it more importance.
OBSERVATIONS
WEEK 7
When being introduced to our first project, I realised that most of my classmates was quite lost on what we have to do.
WEEK 8
This week, I found out that my classmates(including myself) have made a mistake of expressing all the words instead of just a few.
REFLECTIONS
WEEK 7
When we were introduced to this project and InDesign, I was really confused on what we have to do. I didn't really understand what the project was about even after being explained.
WEEK 8
When doing the project in class, I kind off understand a little more on what this assignment is about and I could get a grasp of myself more better than the other weeks. Although I'm still stressed out, but hopefully I can get better and better day by day.
FURTHER READING
WEEK 7
The Shocking Truth About this Little Thing called Kerning by Neil Patel
So what is kerning?
Kerning is basically how much space is between the characters and the adjustments affects the ease of reading. Although it sounds simple enough, but kerning can be highly affective and it can make a huge difference when applied to various variables like font faces, copy blocks, line spacing etc…
Impacts?
Although it sounds simple enough, its such a common thing in our everyday life especially when surfing the web. While reading this, we are already experiencing the impact of kerning. Besides that, marketing is about readability. If theres some content thats important, customer should be able to read without having any problems.
So in conclusion, although kerning is something so little, but it really makes a huge impact on every interaction on the the screen. Once we understand it, it can improve the way we do things in our every day life.
So in conclusion, although kerning is something so little, but it really makes a huge impact on every interaction on the the screen. Once we understand it, it can improve the way we do things in our every day life.
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Week 8
WHAT MAKES GOOD TYPOGRAPHY?
Determining good typography comes in 3 subsidiary proportions flow:
It can be measure by how well It is reinforced in the meaning of the text and not by the abstract scale of merit. Although typographic choices can work in one perspective, it won’t work for another.
Typography is really subjective and theres many solutions to one given text the would be equally good
Your ability to produce good typography depends on how well you understand the goals of your text, not on taste or visual training
Typography is not all about its aesthetics but how you reinforce the meaning of the text. If its aesthetically pleasing but it doesn’t describe what you’re trying to reinforce, that means you have failed. But if it reinforces the meaning of the text, even-though its not aesthetically pleasing, then you have succeeded.
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| Figure 1.1 Highway signage. |
For example, these 2 signs above here.
Clearly, the font for the second sign looks more fancier and “prettier” but its on the highway so it is not suitable at all. The purpose of a highway sign is for people to be able to read it quickly from long distances, at odd angles, under variable lighting and weather conditions. Although its prettier but its not suitable for highway signs, thus making good typography. However if the font was used in wedding invitations, then the script would be appropriate.
URL: https://practicaltypography.com/what-is-good-typography.html
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