is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. Text is composed to create a readable, coherent, and visually satisfying whole.
5
votes
4answers
141 views
Is it good practice to add additional space before a punctuation mark after emphazised text?
Is there a typographic convention or practice about placing punctuation marks after emphazised text?
I ran across this example on a website today that adds an additional space after emphazised text ...
5
votes
4answers
168 views
Does the difference between a 'font' and a 'typeface' subside?
Originally, the typeface is a particular design of type, while a font is a type in a particular size and weight. In short, a typeface usually gathers many fonts.
Nowadays, with digit design of ...
5
votes
7answers
574 views
Building hand-written fonts for lettering
I am looking to build a custom font from my handwriting for lettering a comic.
what professional tools exist to build such a font and export it into one of the mainstream formats (TTF, OpenType, or ...
5
votes
4answers
204 views
What are beginner’s books on typography?
Hum, for some reason I would like to buy myself a book about typography. I have a lot of interest in this field, and already have some knowledge learnt from reading Typophile now and then, among other ...
5
votes
5answers
229 views
How do I create a solid line of uniform thickness inside of a letterform in Illustrator?
I've seen all sorts of headlines and ads that use this style a solid color section of type has a solid uniform line of a different color running through the exact middle of each letter. I've done all ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Different Logo Colors for Different Uses, Appropriate?
I am finalizing the last step of my logo redesign process.
Is it ok not to have a regular color when presenting my logo?
I am thinking about having a defined list of colors for different use cases ...
5
votes
4answers
370 views
Using CamelCase in a logo
I'm looking forward to getting a logo created for my company.
My partners and I have distinct views should we use CamelCase in the logo or not. For example:
boffr vs bOffr
This made me wonder: when ...
5
votes
1answer
102 views
How typographers make bolder/lighter versions of their fonts?
I suppose in older times typographers had to redraw the entire character set, but I'd guess there's some good heuristics to make a character bolder/lighter in software and then make some manual ...
5
votes
2answers
112 views
Is this an effect or a type of font?
I have seen a lot this type of fonts (the ones in the bar). It is a relief effect or the font is just like that?
5
votes
2answers
981 views
Vertical rhythm/baseline grid in Web Design
I recently read some articles about the importance of good vertical rhythm/using a baseline grid for good typography in web design. I decided to try using a baseline grid, like the 960 grid pictured ...
5
votes
4answers
80 views
Proper typesetting of right-to-left text in overall left-to-right context
Screenshot taken from a popular game (LetterPress), where a user has his name in a right-to-left script (which looks like arabic).
This typesetting is clearly surprising, as the name is out of line ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the difference between opentype vs. truetype
I know very little about typography. What are the differences in terms of opentype vs truetype. I do know that they are types of formats to render fonts (correct me if i'm wrong).
Are there ...
5
votes
2answers
40 views
Is there a term for 'reference-marker symbols'?
While this is loosely graphic-design related, when doing design for some kind of annotations, one have to work with symbols used as 'reference markers', such as 1 in foo 1. When you need to discuss ...
5
votes
1answer
138 views
What are some obscure/rare/endangered/extinct typographic symbols?
Just discovered the "asterism" today:
⁂
Super cool. I had never heard of it or seen it before. Wikipedia has more about it.
What other typographic symbols are out there that were never all that ...
5
votes
2answers
96 views
What typefaces would go well with Metalista?
Metalista is a modern blackletter font (afaik :)) designed by Suitcase Type Foundry as a tribute to "the persistency of the metal culture."
What other typefaces (used as subtitles) would mix best ...
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Should one mix serif and sans-serif type fonts on the same Webpage, for plain text elements (not headlines)?
There are "rules" that sans-serif look better for headlines, serif for plain text.
Are there "rules" that specify what to do if I'd wanted to mix serif and sans-serif on plain text elements (not ...
5
votes
1answer
113 views
What is typographically right: 100€ or 100 €? [closed]
I'm wondering if there is supposed to be a white space between the number and the € sign.
100€ or 100 €
5
votes
2answers
129 views
Convert OpenType (PostScript flavor) to OpenType (TrueType flavor)
I want to convert a OpenType (PostScript flavor) font to an OpenType (TrueType flavor) font. This is because Office Word cannot make pdf´s using a OpenType (PostScript flavor) font. To make it more ...
4
votes
4answers
785 views
IS ALL CAPS EVER OK?
I'm recreating a Character Sheet for an RPG, but it might as well be a form.
In the original sheet
I notice that all the text is in capital letters.
At first I thought it was in small-caps, but it ...
4
votes
3answers
207 views
What are the historical origins of Helvetica?
This issue of a typeface's heritage is of particular interest when attempting to pair faces. The nuances of related faces tend to harmonize well, whether that relation is grounded in history or the ...
4
votes
3answers
4k views
Is there a way to sort fonts inside Photoshop, as “serif,” “sans-serif,” “script,” etc.?
In my years as a graphic designer (and now web designer and developer,) I've acquired a great number of fonts; inasmuch as backing them up was a responsibility paramount attendant upon formatting my ...
4
votes
6answers
843 views
How to create SVG for good typography on the web without buying Illustrator?
I have a web font which I would like to display using SVG instead of in HTML. The reason for this is that I want to display large typographically beautiful text, and I don't see any way of getting the ...
4
votes
3answers
98 views
How to calculate the best type colour for a random background colour?
I might need to present content at multiple levels depending on the distance of the observer to a display. Let's say from far away the user perceives a flat colour, but from a close distance the user ...
4
votes
3answers
546 views
What are the more respected sans serif fonts that come standard on most computers?
I've been tasked with making a powerpoint theme for the company I work for and one of the requirements is that it uses a font that comes standard with most computers. What are some of the built-in ...
4
votes
1answer
21 views
What the name of the part of the character that holds the counters and the eyes in a stencil typeface?
Is the a name to the shape that connects the outside of a stencil letter to its interior enabling the letter to be cut through and retain its counters.
4
votes
3answers
120 views
Unicode character that conveys 'synchronization'?
In current common usage, is there a Unicode character consisting of two arrows in a circle, or similar character that could convey 'synchronization'?
For instance something like:
I browsed the ...
4
votes
3answers
257 views
On which sites can I sell fonts I've created?
I made a typeface that I would like to sell non-exclusively on several online stores. I have been searching and found a few nice outlets so far.
What are the font shops you know of? Where do you ...
4
votes
2answers
157 views
How far back does the concept of a “bold” typeface variant go
What I'd like to know is where in history the idea of having a bold variant of a typeface came about.
I suspect that back in Garamond/Caslon's time there would not have been any bold version of their ...
4
votes
2answers
221 views
When is font hinting used for print?
Following on from this question: TTF and other "modern" font systems, and font size differences
Higher quality fonts contain hinting information, which in short better fits glyph boundaries ...
4
votes
2answers
790 views
On which occasions would you use italics in web design?
In which occasions you would like to use italics in web design? Because the use of bold fonts is quite obvious not sure about italics.
4
votes
2answers
97 views
Considerations when using multiple font faces (on webpage or CD cover)
I’m experimenting with fonts for learning purposes, and I noticed that using only one font type looks many times plain, but using more can easily make a mess out of my webpage and CD cover (these are ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
Blackletter fonts supporting long s and r rotunda?
I'm doing up a document in the style of the earliest printed documents. For this, I need to find a blackletter font that supports long s « ſ » and r rotunda « ꝛ ».
Are there any such fonts out ...
4
votes
2answers
205 views
When should text figures/lining figures be used?
Many standard computer fonts don’t have text (aka “old-style”, "hanging") figures, like these:
Also, basic software like Microsoft Office don’t use them by default, even when selecting a font that ...
4
votes
1answer
83 views
where do you get your type inspiration or how do you decide for the right type?
I was wondering where do you guys get your inspiration for Type and How you decide the right Type Face for your projects.
thanks!
4
votes
1answer
65 views
How can I extend an existing font to include punctuation and numbers?
I'm in the process of developing a site for a client, and she really likes the font Sell Your Soul for the main headings. Only problem is that it's incomplete - it doesn't contain numbers or any ...
4
votes
2answers
883 views
Footnote/Endnote references before or after punctuation? (comma, full stop/period, semi-colon…)
Simple question: what's the convention (or, if there's disagreement, guiding principles) for where to place reference, footnote and endnote numbers that apply to a clause leading up to a punctuation ...
4
votes
4answers
176 views
Freely available old-style serif fonts with multiple weights
When I typeset text, I love to be able to choose from a large array of different weights (and, if possible, expansions). Having light and semi-bold variants in addition to the regular and bold weights ...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
When did books start using underlines?
Various sources (such as Wikipedia) say that underlining words is a practice originally from handwritten documents, intended to show the printer that the words needed to be emphasized (with italics or ...
4
votes
1answer
149 views
Hyphenation on many line breaks
Sometimes, word processors screw up hyphenation by hyphenating a series of consecutive lines. This just happened to me in a spectacular way:
What's most annoying in the above case is ...
4
votes
2answers
450 views
Make InDesign not re-hyphenate an already hyphenated word
On a publication that I work on I run into a problem where hyphenated words are hyphenated again at the end of a line. (Here's an example: self-sufficent would end up self-suffi-cent) Is there a way ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
Typeface or font for children's signage
What are good typefaces for use with children's signage (don't say Comic sans). Im looking for something playful yet legible. By children, I mean elementary school age (and younger).
4
votes
3answers
3k views
What can I do with AFM - Adobe font metrics file?
I received zip containing font in .afm format. Is this some sort of source-code of a font that can be converted TTF/OTF or so?
How can I actually read and use this file?
4
votes
2answers
32 views
Hyphenation of compound words
When a compound word is hyphenated, should a second hyphen he added at the beginning of the line? And what is the case for compound words connected by a dash instead of a hyphen?
Is one of the ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
Are there typographic methods of rendering a document traceable?
I seem to recall an anecdote on how one branch of the British government had designed a way to circulate seemingly identical for-your-eyes-only documents to a small circle of high-level collaborators, ...
4
votes
1answer
132 views
Can I use fleurons/hedera as bullets in a list?
I can't find much about using fleurons/hedera as bullets in a list online or in Bringhurst, but I did find several "floral heart bullets" in Unicode. Are these still only for decorative use? Would ...
4
votes
2answers
93 views
Making ogoneks with GREP style
I followed this solution to make Polish ogoneks in InDesign through GREP style BUT every time I use it, the negative tracking is also be applied to the space or next character which immediately ...
4
votes
1answer
339 views
What does “letterfit” mean?
I started reading The Elements of Typographic Style and found the term "letterfit". I'm unsure as to what it means. It doesn't appear in the glossary of terms of the book. Is it related to kerning?
4
votes
3answers
73 views
Does anyone know of any font families that 6, 9, 8, 0 look the same upside down as right side up?
Does anyone know of any font families that 6, 9, 8, 0 look exactly the same upside down as right side up? The 6 upside down would look like 9 and vice-verse. Thanks!
4
votes
4answers
150 views
What page numbering conventions are there for front matters (prelims) of books?
When a book uses arabic page numbering, the usual habit is to treat the front cover as a page number 1, and start the book itself by page number 3. However, sometimes the front-matter of the book is ...
4
votes
1answer
240 views
Font licensing for a web app hosted on clients servers
Frutiger 55 was the winner of the crude typo-battle I hosted in my mind this week (I felt really sorry for poor Gill Sans, one of my top-5 of all time). I want to use it for a Web App that is hosted ...
