FORM
6
THE ANATOMY OF LETTERS
CAPLINE
MEANLINE
BASELINE
Aa
Understanding the fundamental forms and principles of typography is the first step in becoming a great typographer. The most basic element of typography is the letter, and each letter is distinguished by its form. This section will illustrate and define the individual and important pieces which comprise letters.
CAP-HEIGHT
X-HEIGHT
capline
cap-height
The imaginary line resting above uppercase letters.
The height of a capital latter measured from the baseline.
meanline
x-height
The imaginary line running along the top of non-ascending letters.
baseline The imaginary line on which the letters sit.
The imaginary line that designates the top of lowercase letters.
Mallory Short Chelsea Rawson
TITLE/DOT
7
jk ASCENDER
DESCENDER
tittle / dot
descender
ascender
A small distinguishing mark. A point or small mark used as a diacritical mark in writing or printing.
Part of the character that extends below the baseline.
Part of the character that extends above the meanline.
FORM
8
THE ANATOMY OF LETTERS
HOOK
fk STEM
CROSSBAR
LEG
hook
A curved and protruding stroke, bent like a hook, occuring just before the end of a stroke.
crossbar The horizontal stroke in letters. Also known as a bar.
stem
The vertical, fulllength stroke of upright characters. The main “body� of a letter.
leg
The lower, angled stroke of the letter K or L.
Mallory Short Chelsea Rawson
9
mb SHOULDER
BOWL
COUNTER
shoulder
The curve at the beginning of a leg character. The curved stroke aiming downward from a stem.
bowl
An open or closed circular line that creates an interior space.
counter
Any negative space of a letter form, open or closed. The inside of a bowl.
FORM
10
THE ANATOMY OF LETTERS
sy
VERTEX
SPINE
TERMINAL
spine The main left to right curving stroke in the letter S.
terminal
The end, or termination, of a stem or stroke.
vertex
The angle formed at the bottom of a letter where the left and right strokes meet.
Mallory Short Chelsea Rawson
EYE
11
ep
LOBE
FINIAL
eye
The enclosed portion of a lowercase e.
finial
A tapered or curved end at the bottom of a c or e.
lobe
A rounded projecting stroke attached to the main structure of a letter.