Wed, Aug 31, 2016

Let’s review some of the things we learned during our second session:

Introduction to the Five Families of Type

Old Style – Garamond
Transitional – Baskerville
Modern – Bodoni
Egyptian or Slab Serif – Century Expanded
Sans Serif – Helvetica

You need to become very familiar with these categories and the characteristics of each.
Download class notes

Typographical Anatomy – This document was handed out in class, but if you need a new copy, you may download it. You should study this sheet and refer to it often throughout the course.

During class as we became familiar with the different characteristics between the 5 families of type, some terms were introduced. Make sure you know these and begin using them in your typography references:

  • leading – refers to the linespace between the lines of type. The term originated in the days of metal type. During hand-typesetting, thin strips of lead were inserted into the lines of type to increase the distance.
  • sans serif – a typeface that does not have serifs.
  • font – one weight, width or style of a typeface.
  • typeface – the letters, numbers and symbols that make up a design of type. A typeface is part of a type family of coordinated designs. For example, Helvetica Bold is the typeface and is a part of the Helvetica family of type (Helvetica is the type family, Helvetica Bold is the typeface).
  • type family – the full collection of typefaces that were designed together and intended to be used together. For example, Garamond font family consists of roman, italics, semi bold, and bold weights. Combined together, these make up the Garamond type family.
  • scribes – they were responsible for writing books by hand before the invention of the printing press. They were usually monks who lived in monasteries.

Videos Shown in Class

Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press

Johannes Gutenberg Printing Press Animation

History of Typography

Here are some videos to help with this lesson on the intro to typography:

Type Anatomy and Terminology

 

Anatomy: Parts and shapes of Type

 

Type Classification

Homework – Due Wednesday 9/7/16

  • Reading Assignment in textbook: Basics pgs 1-15  (If you haven’t been able to get your book yet, a PDF version of the book was discovered and can be found here.) Complete the first reading assignment if you haven’t done so already.
  • Please bring your tracing pads and pens and other materials for class.
  • Do the lettering assignment we began in class. Using your tracing paper, trace the letter of the alphabet that you selected.  First draw a baseline with a pencil, making sure the line is not too dark. When you’re tracing the letter, you are also be coloring it in.
  • As you’re walking through your neighborhood, commuting to and from school or work, see if you can identify typefaces from the 5 families of type. Take a photo of each. Create a Google Doc and add these photos. One one each page. Write a caption to describe the type family it is from, example Old Style, Transitional, Modern, Slab Serif, Sans Serif. If you can’t find all 5, do as many as you can find.

Additional Reading Source

Thinking with Type – read the following sections:

  • Anatomy
  • Size
  • Scale
  • Type Classification
  • Type Families