The Anatomy of Text

First Element of Multimedia

WHAT IS A FONT?
Fonts refer to the means by which
typefaces are displayed or
presented. Helvetica in movable
type is a font, as is a TrueType font
file.

FONT TYPES
Serif fonts are recognizable by
the small lines at the ends of
the various strokes of a
character. As these lines make a
typeface easier to read by
guiding the eye from letter to
letter and word to word, serif
fonts are often used for large
blocks of text, such as in a
book.

FONT TYPES
Sans serif, or without serif,
refers to typefaces without
these lines. Sans serif fonts are
often used when a large
typeface is necessary, such as
in a magazine headline.
Helvetica is a popular sans serif
typeface. Sans serif fonts are
also common for website text,
as they can be easier to read on
screen.

FONT POINT
The point is used to measure the
size of a font. One point is equal
to 1/72 of an inch. When a
character is referred to as 12pt,
the full height of the text block
(such as a block of movable
type), and not just the character
itself, is being described.

FONT POINT
The different options available
within a font make up a type
family. Many fonts are at a
minimum available in roman,
bold and italic. Other families
are much larger, such as
Helvetica Neue, which is
available in options such
Condensed Bold, Condensed
Black, UltraLight, UltraLight
Italic, Light, Light Italic, Regular,
etc.

Tracking,
Kerning and Letter
Tracking is adjusted to change
Spacingthe space between characters

consistently across a block of

text. This may be used to
increase legibility for an entire
magazine article. Kerning is the
reduction of space between
characters, and letter spacing is
the addition of space between
characters.

LEADINGLeading
SPACES
refers to the distance
between lines of text. This
distance, measured in points, is
measured from one baseline to
the next. A block of text may be
referred to as being 12pt with
6pts of extra leading, also
known as 12/18. This means
there is 12pt type on 18pts of
total height

TYPE FACES
Roman is the standard style of a
typeface, not altered by weight,
width, angle or any other
characteristic. This is often
used for large blocks of text,
such as the text of a book.

TYPE FACES
Italic type is at an angle,
generally slanting to the right
from bottom to top. Italics are
specifically designed within a
typeface, meaning certain
letters may be significantly
different than the roman
version to improve appearance
and legibility.

TYPE FACES
Bold, or boldface, type is a
heavier weight than roman
type. As there is no official
standard for naming typeface
style, bold is often referred to
as black or medium, or other
names depending on the weight
and the preference of typeface
designer

TYPE FACES
Light type is thinner than the
roman option. Depending on
how light the type weight is, it
will often be used at large sizes
so it is legible, or to achieve a
specific style. As with bold,
there are light varieties such as
ultralight.

TYPE FACES
Extended type is wider than the
standard type of a family. It is
useful for headlines and other
large type areas, and provides
even greater flexibility within a
family.

TYPE FACES
Condensed type is a narrower
face, which can fit into small
spaces. Like extended, it
provides more style options
while staying within the same
family.

TYPE FACES
Combined Style is a type font
families that will not just
provide bold, italic, condensed,
light, and so on, but
combinations of each. This
gives the designer even more
options to work with.

LETTER ANATOMY
The baseline is the invisible line
on which characters sit. While
the baseline may differ from
typeface to typeface, it is
consistent within a typeface.
Rounded letters such as "e"
may extend slightly below the
baseline.

LETTER ANATOMY
The meanline falls at the top of
many lowercase letters such as
"e," "g" and "y." It is also at the
curve of letters like "h."

LETTER ANATOMY
The x-height is the distance
between the meanline and the
baseline. It is referred to as the
x-height because it is the height
of a lowercase "x." This height
can vary greatly between
typefaces.

LETTER ANATOMY
The cap height is the distance
from the baseline to the top of
uppercase letters like "H" and
"J."

LETTER ANATOMY
Ascender is the part of a
character that extends above
the meanline is known as an
ascender. Note that this is the
same as extending above the xheight.

LETTER ANATOMY
Descender is the part of a
character that extends below
the baseline is known as a
descender, such as the bottom
stroke of a "y."

LETTER ANATOMY
Stem is the vertical line of a "B"
and the primary diagonal line of
a "V" are known as the stem.
The stem is often the main
"body" of a letter.

LETTER ANATOMY
Bar is the horizontal lines of an
"E" are known as bars. Bars are
horizontal or diagonal lines of a
letter, also known as arms, and
are open on at least one side.

LETTER ANATOMY
Bowl is an open or closed
circular line that creates an
interior space, such as in "e"
and "b."