I learnt of the many sub - categories in which type can be fitted into, how type can and has been produced, and it's history. I also learnt about the details of how type can be identified, and the how characteristics can be made obvious of any given typeface.
Ascenders:
Any part in a lowercase letter that extends above the x-height, found for example in b, d, f, h, k, etc. Some types of ascenders have specific names.
Baseline:
The imaginary line upon which the letters in a font appear to rest.
Bowl:
The curved part of the character that encloses the circular or curved parts (counter) of some letters such as ‘d’, ‘b’, ‘o’, ‘D’, and ‘B’ is the bowl.
Bracket:
The bracket is a curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs.
Cap height:
The height from the baseline to the top of the uppercase letters
Counter:
The enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) of some letters such as d, o, and s is the counter.
Crossbar:
The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase ‘A’ and ‘H’ is a crossbar.
Descender:
Any part in a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline, found for example in g, j, p, q, y, etc. Some types of descenders have specific names.
Ear:
Typically found on the lower case ‘g’, an ear is a decorative flourish usually on the upper right side of the bowl.
Eye:
Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase ‘e’.
Loop:
In a double-storey ‘g’, the loop is the enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline that is connected to the bowl by a link. The enclosed or partially enclosed extenders on cursive ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘l’, and similiar letters are also called loops.
Serif:
Small, finishing strokes on the arms, stems, and tails of characters. Serif typefaces are usually used for text since the serifs form a link between letters that leads the eye across a line of type.
Stem:
The upright element of a letter or character.
Tail :
In typography, the descending, often decorative stroke on the letter ‘Q’ or the descending, often curved diagonal stroke on ‘K’ or ‘R’ is the tail.
Terminal:
The end (straight or curved) of any stroke that doesn't include a serif.
X-height:
The height of the lowercase letters, disregarding ascenders or descenders, typically exemplified by the letter x. The relationship of the x-height to the body defines the perceived type size. A typeface with a large x-height looks much bigger than a typeface with a small x-height at the same size.
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Ascenders:
Any part in a lowercase letter that extends above the x-height, found for example in b, d, f, h, k, etc. Some types of ascenders have specific names.
Baseline:
The imaginary line upon which the letters in a font appear to rest.
Bowl:
The curved part of the character that encloses the circular or curved parts (counter) of some letters such as ‘d’, ‘b’, ‘o’, ‘D’, and ‘B’ is the bowl.
Bracket:
The bracket is a curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs.
Cap height:
The height from the baseline to the top of the uppercase letters
Counter:
The enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) of some letters such as d, o, and s is the counter.
Crossbar:
The (usually) horizontal stroke across the middle of uppercase ‘A’ and ‘H’ is a crossbar.
Descender:
Any part in a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline, found for example in g, j, p, q, y, etc. Some types of descenders have specific names.
Ear:
Typically found on the lower case ‘g’, an ear is a decorative flourish usually on the upper right side of the bowl.
Eye:
Much like a counter, the eye refers specifically to the enclosed space in a lowercase ‘e’.
Loop:
In a double-storey ‘g’, the loop is the enclosed or partially enclosed counter below the baseline that is connected to the bowl by a link. The enclosed or partially enclosed extenders on cursive ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘l’, and similiar letters are also called loops.
Serif:
Small, finishing strokes on the arms, stems, and tails of characters. Serif typefaces are usually used for text since the serifs form a link between letters that leads the eye across a line of type.
Stem:
The upright element of a letter or character.
Tail :
In typography, the descending, often decorative stroke on the letter ‘Q’ or the descending, often curved diagonal stroke on ‘K’ or ‘R’ is the tail.
Terminal:
The end (straight or curved) of any stroke that doesn't include a serif.
X-height:
The height of the lowercase letters, disregarding ascenders or descenders, typically exemplified by the letter x. The relationship of the x-height to the body defines the perceived type size. A typeface with a large x-height looks much bigger than a typeface with a small x-height at the same size.
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The next task we undertook was involved using the 5 different typefaces we had to research that came as a default on the University Macs. To find my chosen typefaces, look here (a post on my Design Context blog).
Initially, we were told to split the type into categories of our own, we chose the following:
-Script
-Typewriter
-Modernist
-Transitional
-Contemporary/ Digital
We then split the same typefaces into categories involving method and time of production:
-Stone
-Sable
-Bone
-Wood
-Lead
-Silicone
We then exchanged our own letters with partners, with no information given about the typeface, meaning we had to find out information about them ourselves:
Impact - Geoffrey Lee (1965)
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ITC Bauhaus Heavy - Edward Benguiat & Victor Caruso (1975)
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Palatino - Hermann Zapf (1948)
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ITC American Typewriter - Joel Kaden & Tony Stan (1974)
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Helvetica Neue Ultra Light - Linotype Staff (1983)
- The original typeface itself was designed in 1957 by Max Miedinger & Eduard Hoffmann at the Haas'sche Schriftgiesserei (Haas Type Foundry) in Switzerland.
- It was developed from the common Modernist typeface Neue Haas Grotesk.
- Neue Helvetica is a reworking of the typeface with more structure and unified width and height. The legibility was also improved, with things such as heavier punctuation lines and increased spacing used to aid the "crisp, sharp" feel of Helvetica.
- The font family is made up of 51 fonts including 9 weights in 3 widths.
- Neue Helvetica also comes in variants for Central European and Cyrillic text.
-Buy it for $29 at www.myfont.com
