Type Primer, A

by Kane, John

• ISBN13: 9780130990716
• ISBN10: 013099071X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Practical and hands-on in approach, this book/exercise manual speaks clearly tobeginninggraphic designers and others involved with type about the complex meeting of message, image, and history surrounding typography. Focused on intent and content, not affect or style, it makes informed distinctions between what is appropriate and what is merely show (especially in terms of the "junk" often generated unenlightened by computer users). Filled with examples, exercises, and background information--and designeditselfto reflect good typographic design--it guides readers systematically to the point where they can not only understand butdemonstratebasic principles of typography, and thereby strengthen their own typographicinstincts.Basics. Development. Letters. Words and Phrases. Text. Simple Organization. Grid Systems.For beginning graphic designers and others interested in learning the effective use of type.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	v
Introduction	viii
Basics	1	(14)
Describing letterforms	2	(3)
The font	5	(3)
Describing typefaces	8	(2)
Measuring type	10	(2)
Comparing typefaces	12	(3)
Development	15	(36)
A timeline	16	(31)
Text type classification	47	(4)
Letters	51	(12)
Understanding letterforms	52	(4)
Maintaining x-height	56	(1)
Form/counterform	57	(3)
Contrast	60	(3)
Words and phrases	63	(12)
Reinforcing meaning	64	(6)
Making sentences, finding sense	70	(3)
English is not Chinese	73	(2)
Text	75	(40)
Tracking: kerning and letterspacing	76	(4)
Formatting text	80	(2)
Texture	82	(3)
Typing is not typesetting	85	(1)
Leading and line length	86	(4)
A type specimen book	90	(4)
Indicating paragraphs	94	(3)
Widows and orphans	97	(1)
Highlighting text	98	(6)
Headlines within text	104	(8)
Cross-alignment	112	(3)
Simple organization	115	(36)
Kinds of proportion	116	(8)
Placing text on a page	124	(8)
Expressing hierarchy	132	(12)
Tabular matter	144	(7)
Grid systems	151	(29)
Introduction	152	(1)
An example	153	(1)
Components of the grid	154	(4)
A simple grid	158	(6)
Creating a grid for text	164	(10)
Creating a grid for text and images	174	(6)
Summing up	180	(3)
Appendices and bibliography	183	(11)
Appendix A: Macintosh keyboard layouts	184	(2)
Appendix B: 20 typefaces	186	(8)
Selected bibliography	194	(1)
Index	195