Typography

Most typography terminology comes from the time when type consisted of letter forms molded on top of blocks of metal.

Metaltype.jpg (52210 bytes) Metaltypeprinted.gif (19258 bytes)

Alphabets in the Western world usually have two distinct cases of letters, upper and lower. Capital letters are often called upper case and small letters are called lower case. These terms originated during the time of movable type when type was stored in cases. The capitals were in the upper part of the cabinet, and the smaller letters in the lower part. 

 TypeMand.jpg (61801 bytes)  

   

Font Anatomy

Point Size

Leading

Tracking and Kerning

Pitch/CPI (Characters per Inch)

Type Classification

Type Classification Short

Typographic Color

Typography Guidelines