Typography workshop

Kerning makes a word sit comfortably on a page.

Never negative Kern always increase space on other letters.

Breaking a line down into two sentences can change what you 'mean' to say.

Learning how people read, hierarchy, position, weight and size

An exercise where we filled the whole area of each of four columns with different point size test.  We experimented with both point size and leading. Watch out for negative leading. Between 6 and 12 usually 2 points difference.

Think about how many words in a column ie Newspapers tend to be a minimum of six words, 36 characters wide where as books tend to average 10 -12 words. Tabloid are narrower than broadsheets due to smaller words!  Anything wider than these averages can put you off.

Also consider your audience.  

Remember screen no guide to readability.

Novel - 8.5 - 9 pt

Leaflet 8.5 - 9pt

Mag - 10 pt.

Most accessible to whole community - 14 point

* Screen can change font size on I-books!

As a group we discussed which type was most readable firstly on screen and then printed out.

The lesson here was with a print job always start by printing a draft out.  To assist with decision on point size - can you read at arms length?

Copy size on magazines and in books about 9 on 11 (9 pt type and 11pt leading)

The group selected the paragraph with additional leading. adding leading can increase readability however too much hinders.

To make text fit cam also change the font - different x-heights eg Ariel has a large x-height.

  

Paragraph rules - change of subject

Line spaces make text more interesting

Can also use Indents but not both together.

Indent = tab space = 1 cm - 3 characters

Avoid rivers

Rules

Look at type

Choose typeface

Adjust paragraph

Layout

More white space is desirable

Techniques fo creating space

Techniques fo creating space

Alignment

Aligned Left / ragged left

Aligned right / ragged right

Justified - not best method but can create a shorter column length.

centre

We experimented with adjusting text, fonts to create the largest possible image

Then tried to produce an interesting layout.

Typography workshop 2

Introducing the basic principles


The tone of voice - communicating emotions through Serif or sans serif, Case, typeface, weight, fine or bold, the position on page, Point size.


Kerning - The space between the letters
Useful to provide a visual even space, to create consistency.  It is the AREA between the letters in a single word


Software generates space automatically.


The importance of the space between the letters and allowing the word to sit comfortably in its own space needs to be perfect for Logos and brand names.


Kerning your first and second name


The starting point is always the largest space. ie for GRAHAM the starting point is between the A and H.


If the large space is obvious then does need kerning.  


Never negative kern


L and A are bad letter combinations.


Don't have to kern every letter leave at least 2 unchanged


The Hierarchy of the message
Order of the information


Graham tried a few exercise some screen where we had to really look with our eyes and not allow our brain to think.

In this example people tend to look at two first, at the centre of the screen with the space around it.


Size, position, and weight can contribute to hierarchy.

You look at four first however you read one, two, three


Layout is crucial to Graphic Design.


We read the shape of the word not necessary for each letter.


Your brain reads the easiest thing first ie Lowercase is easier to read than uppercase.

In this example would probably read two first.

How do you get to read the sentence into two lines?


Rule - Always break the sentance where there is a natural pause.

Task one First name san serif upper case/ Last name serif upper case

Task two a short proverb or song lyric 6 or 7 words.  Play about with size /weight to get you to read the text sequentially.

Task three break the above into two lines

To thine own self

be true,