Most typefaces have different variations or styles. These are modified versions of the original or regular typeface. Some common variations are italic, bold and bold italic. Some typefaces also come in condensed or extended (expanded), but may also have other varieties like small caps, outlined, shaded or even more decorative with swashes. A few articles to review on the topic are Variations on a Theme and Styles, Weights, Widths—It’s All in the (Type) Family.
Vocabulary
Regular, roman, book
Type width
condensed
extended, expanded
Weight
light, bold
Posture
italic, oblique
Stress
vertical
horizontal
Contrast
extreme
medium
low/none
Serif
bracketed
unbracketed
Homework
Type Book— This type book exercise is based on variations. Create a 6-page document. Each page must show a sampling of 3 character, comparing variations to type within each category discussed in class. The document for this assignment may be downloaded –>ADV1167-Variations
Find 5 examples that use a typeface from one of the 5 families/classifications of type we discussed in class. Take a photograph of each.
Upload the 5 photos to our OpenLab website and write a brief caption for each photo indicating the following: which scenario each was used, describe the classification to which you think it belongs and why.
DO NOT use Google to get your images. Take the photos as you travel about your business during the weekend.
One of main projects of the semester will be to create a type book that each student will be able to use as reference as they continue their graphic design studies. The book is created using InDesign and consists of a variety of exercises.
The lecture for the day included a demonstration on creating and using multiple InDesign documents.
Topics Covered
Creating multi-page documents
Using the Page Panel
Working with Master Pages
If you need a little help with InDesign, here are couple of video tutorials which may be helpful.
InDesign 5 – How to Work with Pages
Working with Master Pages – InDesign 6
In-Class Lab & Homework
In class we begin a 5-page document which should be completed and turned in on Monday, Feb 24. The instructions are as follows:
Create a 5-page document using the 5-column grid we set up in class.
The 5th column of each page will contain the following: Families of Type
—Name of family
—Timeline
—Characteristics (at least 2)
—Name of the font used
Use the first 4 columns as your art area.
Using the name of the famous person you selected, create an interesting composition with caps and lowercase or all lowercase type
Use lines and basic shapes to make your composition interesting.
Do 1 page for each of the five families of type.
Create a new composition for each family
Save your file as follows:
ADV1167_yourlastname_5Families
Then save the file again as a PDF (which will be submitted) with the same name.
The 5 Classifications of Type – with so many typefaces, it is important to be able to distinguish and categorize the different varieties. Knowing the various characteristics of the different classifications will help to make identifying type a bit easier.
Old Style (Garamond is one example)
Transitional (Baskerville is one example)
Modern (Bodoni is one example)
Egyptian or Slab-Serifs (Rockwell is one example)
Sans Serifs (Helvetica is one example)
The reading assignment, The History of Type contains all the information about the different classifications.
Homework
Prepare for Quiz #1 for Friday, 2/21/14 (will include 5-10 questions covering everything we’ve talked about so far, including readings)
Type Book – Choose a performer, famous person, or fictional character about whom you will do your type book assignments. You will use this person’s name or text about them to thematically tie the exercises together.
Create a 1-page document (use the grid in the Dropbox folder)
The document has 5 columns. In the 5th column, title the page: Anatomy and Letterforms
In the 1st to 4th column, type the name of your performer or famous person. Use these type specifications: Times, C/lc, approximately 120 pts and adjust if the type size is too big for the name you are using.
Align the baseline of this word with the first your horizontal guides
Use the LINE TOOL from your tool menu and PLACE a horizontal line indicating the baseline, meanline, and capline. These lines should be gray.
Use the LINE TOOL again and set lines and/or arrow to identify the following:
baseline (gray line)
meanline (gray line)
capline (gray line)
serif
counter
x-height
ascenders
descenders
When completed save your INDESIGN file as ADV1167_yourname_anatomy
Then save again as a PDF: Go to FIle > Export > ADOBE PDF > ADV1167_yourname_anatomy.pdf
We will be using InDesign a bit more during each class. If you need a bit of a refresher on starting a new document or, there is a link to a video tutorial in my last update. (see here).
Topics Covered
How to use kerning and tracking
Setting up new documents
Using the type blocks to understand leading
Setting up guides and columns to create a grid
Using the ruler horizontal and vertical rulers in InDesign
Creating strokes
Filling color
Homework
Take the best and worst prints of stacked words and write a paragraph (about 5-6 sentences) describing why one works well and why the other doesn’t well in terms of leading. For this exercise, you were to concentrate on getting good leading with your 2 stacked words. On Friday the 14th you will have one last time to complete this printing if you need to try it again.
Topics Covered
