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