3 Typography Free Online FlashCards

What is typography?

Typography is the selection and arrangement of type to make written information clear, engaging, and appropriate to its purpose.

How do a typeface and a font differ?

A typeface is a designed family of letterforms; a font is a particular style or file within that family, such as regular, bold, or italic.

What is the baseline in type anatomy?

The baseline is the line on which most letters sit.

What distinguishes serif from sans-serif type?

Serif letters have small finishing strokes; sans-serif letters lack them. Serif faces are often used for editorial, literary, or formal tones.

How do legibility and readability differ?

Legibility is how easily individual characters can be distinguished; readability is how comfortably a passage can be read as a whole.

What does kerning adjust?

Kerning adjusts the space between a particular pair of characters. It is especially useful in large text, where uneven gaps are noticeable.

What does x-height measure, and how can it affect text?

X-height is the height of lowercase letters such as x, excluding ascenders and descenders. A generous x-height can make lowercase text appear larger at the same nominal size.

What is an ascender?

An ascender is the part of a lowercase letter that rises above the x-height, as in h or b.

What is a descender?

A descender is the part of a letter that extends below the baseline, as in p or g.

What is a counter in a letterform?

A counter is an enclosed or partly enclosed space within a letter, such as the inside of o or e.

What defines a monospaced typeface, and where is it useful?

In monospaced type, every character occupies the same horizontal width. This supports code and tabular alignment.

What is display type designed for?

Display typefaces are designed primarily to attract attention at larger sizes, such as in titles, posters, or short labels.