TypographyBasics

Typography

5 point type 6 point type 7 point type 8 point type 9-point type 10-point type 11-point type 12-point type 14 –point type Text type 16-point type 18-point type 20-point type 24-point type 30-point type 36-point type 42-point type 48-point type 60-point type 72-point type Display type DISPLAY TYPE This is text type, also referred to as body text or body copy. It is usually set in an easy-to- read typeface and line lengths that aren’t too short or too wide. This text is set using 14 point Garamond book while the heading is 20 point Gill Sans Ultra Bold. The width of this column is approximately 15 picas wide using a Flush Left/Ragged Right alignment style. The left edge is straight or flush and the right edge is uneven or ragged.

Source: Designing with Type, 5 th Edition

X-height All type specimens are set in 60-point type. Source: Designing with Type, 5 th Edition

Inches are best for U.S. paper sizes. Picas and points are the traditional measure and what I learned. There are six picas per inch, 12 points per pica, 72 points per inch, all easily divisible, unlike inches! A point is identical to a Mac pixel — the Mac runs on 72 pixels per inch — which makes paper-to-web transitions easy. U.S. type sizes are measured in points. A “computer” or “PostScript” pica is rounded to exactly 1/6 inch. An old-fashioned, traditional pica is inch shorter than this, so physical rulers no longer work.

Source: Designing with Type, 5 th Edition

Old SchoolTypography

California Job Cases

Font drawer

Font drawers and platen proof presses

Typesetter composing metal type

Composed type ready for proofing

Typographer composing type in a type chase

Locking up the composed page with a quoine

Linotype machine