Term
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Definition
| Vertex-The outside point at the bottom or top of a character where two strokes meet. |
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Term
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Definition
| Tittle - A small distinguishing mark, such as on a lowercase i or j. (the dot) |
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Term
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Definition
| Tail - The descender on an upper-case Q. |
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Term
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Definition
Axis - An imaginary line drawn from top to bottom of a glyph bisecting thinnest parts of the strokes in a O.
Vertical Axis- found in formal typefaces
Diagonal Axis - found in more informal, friendlier typefaces |
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Term
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Definition
| Stem- the vertical stroke of a letterform. |
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Term
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Definition
| Spur - A small projection off a main stroke found on many capital Gs. |
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Term
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Definition
| Spine - The main curved stroke of the S or s. |
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Term
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Definition
| Shoulder - A curved stroke projecting from a stem - h,m,n. |
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Term
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Definition
| Serif - A stroke added as a stop to the beginning and end of the main strokes of a character. |
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Term
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Definition
| Loop - The lower portion of a double-story (link and loop) g. |
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Term
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Definition
| Link- the connecting stroke between the upper bowl and the lower loop of a double-story (link and loop) g. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ligature - Two or more letters are joined together to form one glyph or character. |
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Term
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Definition
| Leg - A lower (horizontal or diagonal) stroke that is attached on one end and free on the other. |
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Term
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Definition
| Hook - the lower portion, descender, of a single story g. |
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Term
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Definition
| Eye - the counter of a lower case e. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ear - The small stroke that projects from the top of the lowercase g or r. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ear - The small stroke that projects from the top of the lowercase g or r. |
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Term
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Definition
| Descender - The part of a character (g, j, p, q, y for example) that descends below the baseline. |
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Term
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Definition
| Crotch - the interior area of a letterform where two diagonal strokes converge. |
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Term
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Definition
| Crossbar - The horizontal stroke connecting two sides of a letterform (as in e, A, and H) |
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Term
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Definition
| Cross stroke - A horizontal stroke that bisects the main stroke (as in f, t or T). |
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Term
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Definition
| Counter - The partially or fully enclosed space within a character. |
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Term
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Definition
| Bracket - A curved or wedge-like connection between the stem and serif of some fonts. Not all serifs are bracketed serifs. |
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Term
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Definition
| Bowl - A curved stroke which creates a counter within a character. |
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Term
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Definition
| Beak - Decorative stroke at the end of the arm of a letter, similar to a serif (found on E, F, T) |
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Term
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Definition
| Barb - Decorative stroke at the end of a curved stroke as in G, S. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ball Terminal - a circular terminal |
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Term
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Definition
| Ascender - the part of a character that ascends above the median. |
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Term
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Definition
| Apex - A point at the top of a character where two strokes meet. |
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Term
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Definition
| Aperture - the opening of an open counter. |
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Term
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Definition
| A complete set of characters and glyphs of a single typeface |
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Term
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Definition
| A system of characters and glyphs that are designed to work together. |
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Term
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Definition
| Arm - An upper (horizontal or diagonal) stroke that is attached on one end and free on the other. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any single element that is part of a typeface. This includes letters, numbers, punctuation, ligatures, swashes, and dingbats, among others. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Any individual part of a letterform. Strokes can be horizontal, diagonal, vertical or curved or decorative. |
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Term
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Definition
| Baseline - the imaginary line on which the body of a letterform rests. |
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Term
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Definition
| Median, Meanline or Waistline - Imaginary line running along the top of non-ascending, lowercase letters. |
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Term
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Definition
| Cap-line - Imaginary line marking the height of uppercase letters within a typeface. |
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Term
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Definition
| X-height - The height of lowercase letters reach based on the height of lowercase x; does not include ascenders or descenders. The space between the baseline and the median. |
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Term
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Definition
| Overshoot - the portion of a curved stroke that extends over the baseline, the median or the capline. Overshoot is necessary in order to make round characters appear to be the correct height. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ampersand- a symbol for the word "and." |
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Term
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Definition
| Dingbat - a typographical device other than a letterform, numeral or punctuation mark. Symbols, marks, or images that are designed to work as a part of a system as a typeface. |
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Term
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Definition
| Swash -Exaggerated decorative serif, terminal or tail. |
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Term
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Definition
| Double story a / single story a |
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Term
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Definition
| Teardrop terminal - strokes end in a teardrop shape |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Characters that are upright, not italic. |
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Term
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Definition
| Angled (oblique), light-bodied, compact, and almost cursive characters. Not roman (upright). |
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Term
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Definition
| A collection of similar Typefaces designed to be used together. The Helvetica family, includes roman and italic styles, varied weights (regular, semibold, and bold), and several widths (extended and compressed). |
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Term
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Definition
| Variations within a typeface family that relate to the form of the letter, like italic and roman. |
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Term
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Definition
| Variations within a typeface family that relate to a change in thickness of stroke. For example, Ultra Light, Light, Regular, Book, Bold, Black, Ultra Bold, etc. |
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Term
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Definition
| Variations within a typeface family that relate to the width of the character, for example, wide, extended, normal, condensed or compressed. |
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Term
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Definition
| The space between words. Should be equal to the space occupied by a lower case L. |
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Term
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Definition
| The space between a pair of letters. |
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Term
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Definition
| Spacing between letters in a block of text as a whole. |
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Term
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Definition
| The unit of measurement used to measure type. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of points in an inch. |
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Term
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Definition
| A typeface that is decorative in nature. Used at larger sizes and in limited quantity. |
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Term
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Definition
| A typeface that is designed to be used at smaller sizes (below 14 point), for large amounts of running text. It is easy to read at small sizes. |
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Term
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Definition
| A typeface that was designed to emulate cursive handwriting. |
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Term
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Definition
| German craftsman and inventor who originated a method of printing from movable type. Unique elements of his invention are thought to have included a metal alloy that could melt readily and cool quickly to form durable reusable type, an oil-based ink that could be made sufficiently thick to adhere well to metal type and transfer well to vellum or paper, and a new press. Around 1450 |
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Term
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Definition
| The curved, tapered end of a stroke, as in an "e" or "c" |
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Term
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Definition
| Gutenberg's 42 Line Bible. Considered to be one of the most beautiful books ever printed. Circa 1450 |
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Term
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Definition
| A system for organizing type that establishes an order of importance, allowing the reader to easily find what they are looking for and navigate the content. |
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Term
Ways to create
Typographic
Hierarchy |
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Definition
Size
Weight
Style
Color
Position
Contrast |
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