


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Anatomy of a Letterform
What is the difference between a typeface and a font?
A typeface refers to a family of related fonts, while a font refers to a specific member of that family. For example, Times New Roman is a typeface, and Times New Roman Bold Italic is a font. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings in the world of typography.
What is the purpose of a serif in typography?
A serif is a small line or stroke regularly attached to the end of a larger stroke in a letter or symbol within a particular typeface. The primary purpose of a serif is to guide the horizontal flow of the eyes. The small lines make individual letters more distinctive and our brain can recognize words quicker.
What is the difference between ascender and descender in typography?
Ascenders and descenders are parts of a character that rise above or drop below the baseline. Ascenders are the parts of lowercase letters that rise above the x-height (the height of a lowercase ‘x’), such as ‘b’ or ‘d’. Descenders, on the other hand, are the parts of lowercase letters that drop below the baseline, such as ‘p’ or ‘g’.
What is the role of kerning in typography?
Kerning refers to the adjustment of space between individual letter pairs. It plays a crucial role in typography as it affects the readability and appearance of the text. Proper kerning prevents awkward spaces between letters and ensures a smooth reading experience.
What is the significance of the x-height in typography?
The x-height refers to the height of a lowercase ‘x’ in a specific typeface. It is significant because it affects the overall readability of a text. A typeface with a larger x-height is generally easier to read at smaller sizes.
What is a ligature in typography?
A ligature is a special character that combines two or more letters into a single symbol. They are used to improve the aesthetics and readability of certain letter combinations. For example, the ‘fi’ ligature combines the ‘f’ and ‘i’ into a single character to prevent the ‘f’ from colliding with the dot of the ‘i’.
What is the difference between tracking and kerning?
While both tracking and kerning involve adjusting the space between characters, they are used in different contexts. Kerning adjusts the space between individual letter pairs to correct visually uneven spacing. Tracking, on the other hand, adjusts the spacing uniformly over a range of characters to change the overall density or appearance of a text.
What is a counter in typography?
A counter refers to the enclosed or partially enclosed circular or curved negative space (white space) within letters such as ‘d’, ‘o’, and ‘s’. Counters can greatly influence the legibility of a typeface, as they help define a letter’s shape.
What is a baseline in typography?
The baseline is the line upon which most letters “sit” and below which descenders extend. It serves as a guiding line for aligning characters in a line of text. It is one of the most important elements in typography as it ensures consistency and alignment in text.
What is a glyph in typography?
A glyph is a specific form of a character. It can represent a letter or a symbol. For example, the letter ‘a’ can have different glyphs depending on the typeface or style (italic, bold, etc.). Glyphs are the building blocks of typography and play a crucial role in the design and readability of text.
Jason Beaird is a designer and front-end developer with over ten years of experience working on a wide range of award-winning web projects. With a background in graphic design and a passion for web standards, he’s always looking for accessible ways to make the Web a more beautiful place. When he’s not pushing pixels in Photoshop or tinkering with markup, Jason loves sharing his passion for the Web with others.