Typography Classifications Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is a typeface?

A typeface is the design of a single set of characters unified by consistent visual properties.

What does a type family include?

A type family includes many style variations of a single typeface.

What is an extended type family?

An extended type family contains more styles of a typeface than a traditional family.

What is a super family?

A super family contains all styles, including serif and sans serif styles. Signup and view all the answers

6 picas = _____ inches

1 inch Signup and view all the answers

72 points = ____ inches

1 inch Signup and view all the answers

1 Point = _____ inch

1/72 inch Signup and view all the answers

12 Points = _____ Pica(s)

1 Pica Signup and view all the answers

What is a font?

A font is the digital file of a complete character set of a particular typeface in all sizes. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a serif font?

A serif font has small lines or flourishes at the end points of letters. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a sans serif font?

Sans serif fonts have straight edges without extensions or serifs. Signup and view all the answers

What are humanist typefaces?

Humanist typefaces are Old Style Roman typefaces, characterized by angled and bracketed serifs. Signup and view all the answers

What are transitional typefaces?

Transitional typefaces represent a transition from old style to modern, exhibiting characteristics of both. Signup and view all the answers

What are modern serif typefaces characterized by?

Modern serif typefaces are characterized by extreme contrast between thick and thin lines. Signup and view all the answers

What defines geometric sans serif fonts?

Geometric sans serif fonts are built around geometric forms, like perfect circles. Signup and view all the answers

What is a slab serif?

A slab serif is characterized by heavy, block-like serifs. Signup and view all the answers

What are blackletter typefaces based upon?

Blackletter typefaces are based upon medieval manuscript letterforms from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries. Signup and view all the answers

What are display fonts used for?

Display fonts are used for small amounts of text like titles and headers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the baseline in typography?

The baseline is the line upon which most letters 'sit'. Signup and view all the answers

What is cap height?

Cap height is the distance from the baseline to the top of the capital letter. Signup and view all the answers

What is x-height?

X-height is the height of lowercase letters, specifically the lowercase x. Signup and view all the answers

What are ascenders in typography?

Ascenders are parts of certain lowercase letters that extend above the x-height. Signup and view all the answers

What are descenders?

Descenders are lowercase letters that fall below the baseline. Signup and view all the answers

What is leading?

Leading is the space between lines of text or sentences. Signup and view all the answers

What is letterspacing/tracking?

Letterspacing/tracking is the amount of space between letters of a word. Signup and view all the answers

What is kerning?

Kerning is the adjustment of horizontal space between characters in a word. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Typeface and Families

A typeface is a unified design of characters, distinguished by consistent visual properties.
A type family includes variations of a single typeface, typically including light, medium, and bold weights along with their italics.
An extended type family offers more styles than a traditional family, featuring unique styles like hairline, extended, and condensed.
A super family encompasses various styles across classifications, combining both serif and sans serif, providing versatility (e.g., ITC Stone).

Measurements

6 picas equals 1 inch.
72 points equals 1 inch.
1 point equals 1/72 inch.
12 points equals 1 pica.

Fonts

A font is the digital file containing a complete character set of a specific typeface in various sizes.
Serif fonts are characterized by small lines or flourishes at letter endpoints; examples include Times New Roman and Georgia.
Sans serif fonts lack these extensions, featuring straight edges (e.g., Futura, Helvetica). Subcategories include Grotesque, Humanist, and Geometric.

Typeface Classifications

Humanist typefaces emerged in the late 15th century, with characteristics such as angled serifs and varied stress (e.g., Caslon, Garamond).
Transitional typefaces, from the 18th century, bridge old style and modern designs (e.g., Baskerville, Century).
Modern serifs feature high contrast between thick and thin lines, typically with minimal brackets (e.g., Bodoni, Didot).
Geometric sans serif fonts, like Futura, utilize geometric shapes, resulting in circular Os and sharp letter peaks.
Slab serifs have strong, block-like serifs with consistent stroke weight (e.g., American Typewriter).
Blackletter typefaces are based on medieval manuscripts, characterized by heavy strokes and condensed letters (e.g., Rotunda, Fraktur).
Display fonts are ornate and heavy, used for titles and headers (e.g., Broadway, Copper Black).

Typography Fundamentals

The baseline is the imaginary line upon which most letters rest.
Cap height measures from the baseline to the top of capital letters, affecting letter size.
X-height indicates the height of lowercase letters, specifically lowercase "x," omitting ascenders and descenders.
Ascenders are portions of lowercase letters (like b, d, f) that extend above x-height.
Descenders refer to segments of lowercase letters (e.g., g, j, p) that go below the baseline.
Leading is the space between lines of text, measured from one baseline to the next.
Letterspacing (tracking) defines the space between letters within a word.
Kerning is the adjustment of horizontal space between specific pairs of letters for improved visual appeal.

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Description

Test your knowledge of typography with these flashcards. Explore key concepts such as typefaces, type families, and understanding visual properties. Perfect for students and professionals in graphic design or typography.