LETTER ANATOMY

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Designed in 1798 by Giambattista Bodoni, the serif font Bodoni drew inspiration from elements of the English typeface Baskerville and the French typeface Didot, with the result widely-regarded as one of the most influential and easily-recognized typefaces in history. Giambattista has been called “the father of modern type� and the typeface Bodoni is at once modern and traditional. This graceful illustrated volume comprehensively explores the broad scope of experimental and creative design ideas that have been realized using Bodoni.


Stem

Leg


Cap height Stem x-height

Leg

Baseline

Baseline A line on which the bottom of characters without descenders sit or align.

Cap height The distance from a baseline to the top of a capital charter.

Leg A projecting diagonal stem or stroke extending downward, as in a R and K; also known as a tail.

Stem (or Stroke) The principal vertical or oblique element(s) of a character, as in an A, B, L, or V; except for curved characters where they are called strokes.

x-height The distance from the baseline to the top of lowercase x.


Apex

Crossbar


Apex

Crossbar

Apex The outer point where two diagonal stems or strokes meet, as at the top of an A or M or at the bottom of an M.

Crossbar A horizontal element connecting two vertical or diagonal stems or strokes, or crossing a stem or stroke, as in an A, H, f, or t; also known as a bar or cross stroke.


Tail


Tail Tail The short stem or stroke that rests on a baseline, as in a K or R; or extending below a baseline, as in a Q or j. In a K and R, also known as a leg.


Joint

Serif


Joint

Serif

Joint The angle formed where two strokes meet or intersect, as is a K or R.

Serif The beginning or end of a stem or stroke, arm, leg, or tail drawn at a right angle or at an oblique to the stem or stroke.


Ascender

Bracket


Ascender

Bracket

Ascender The stem or stroke of a lowercase character located above the x-height, as in b, d, or k.

Bracket A curving joint between the serif and a stem or stroke; also known as a fillet.


Arm


Arm

Arm A projecting horizontal or upward diagonal stem or stroke not enclosed within a character, as in an E, K, or L.


Inclined Stress


Inclined Stress

Inclined Stress The inclination suggested by the relationship of thin and thick stems or strokes in a character, which can be an inclined or vertical stress or axis.


Vertex


Vertex

Vertex The angle formed at the bottom of a character where the left and right strokes meet or intersect, as in a V or x.


Bowl


Bowl

Bowl A curved stem or stroke that encloses a counter, as in a b, p, or O.


Bowl

Spur


Spur

Spur A small, pointed projection from a stem or stroke, sometimes found on the bottom of a b, t, or G.


Ligature


Ligature

Ligature A stem or stroke that connects two characters together creating a ligature or tied character.


Terminal


Terminal

Terminal A stem or stroke ending other than a serif.


Shoulder


Shoulder

Shoulder The portion of a curved stroke, but not the hairline, connecting two vertical strokes or stems.


Ear


Ear

Ear A small projecting stroke sometimes attached to the bowl of a g or the stem of a r.


Counter

Descender


Counter

Descender Counter An area enclosed by a bowl or a crossbar.

Descender The stem or stroke of a lowercase character located below the baseline, as in a g, p, or y.


Spine


Spine

Spine The diagonal portion or main curved stroke of an S or s.


Link

Loop


Link

Loop Link The stem or stroke that connects the bowl and the loop of a g.

Loop The descender of a g when it is entirely closed.


Swash


Swash

Typeface: Apple Chancery

Swash A flourished terminal, stem, or stroke added to a character.


Inches Points Picas ≒ Cicero


Inches

Points

Picas ≒ Cicero

Cicero A European typographic unit of measurement approximately equal to the British or American pica, or 4.155mm.

Pica A typographic unit of measurement where 12 points equal 1 pica (1/16 inch or 0.166 inch) and 6 picas equal 1 inch (0.996 inch).

Points The smallest unit of typographic measurement; one point is equal to 1/72 inch or 0.0148 inches or 0.351mm.


Jin Kil School of Visual Arts Instructor: Richard Poulin


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