Rules of Typography

Rules of

hy

Typ

r a g p o

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Table of

Contents .

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1 Type Anatomy 2. Size and Scale 3. Weight 4. Kerning & Tracking

5. Leading /line spacing 6. Alignment & Justification 7. Mixing Typefaces 8. The Typographic Grid

Type

Anatomy 9 1

Bar Ascender Cap Height

The Anatomy Counter

Crossbar Font Size

of Type

Descender

Bowl

Terminal

Ascender line Mean line X-Height Baseline Descender line

Size &Scale 11

If all type was the same size, then it would be difficult to know which was the most important information on the page.

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In order to guide the reader, headings are usually large, sub-headings are smaller, and body type is smaller still.

Size and

scale

are one of the main elements to achieve visual hierarchy.

ght Wei 13 3

Using different font weights is another important element to achieve visual hierarchy.

Different weights such as Bold, Regular, and Light establish contrast, texture and improves legibility.

is the adjustment of individual letter pair. Its purpose is not to tighten or loosen letter spacing overall but to remedy problems of unevenness which occur between specific letter pairs.

15 Kerning 4

Tracking

Tracking differs from kerning in that tracking is the adjustment of space for groups of letters and entire blocks of text. Use tracking to change the overall appearance and readability of the text, making it more open and airy or more dense.

Leading 17

Leading describes the vertical space between each line of type. t s calle t is ecause st i s o lea e e o iginall use to separate lines of type in the days of metal typesetting. Leading is used in order to imporve legibilty and sometimes to create texture and contrast in a composition.

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As a ule ea ing is set at least

oints bigger than the font

Size. onts

it la ge

t an mall

eig t Sans Serif) need more leading

eig t Serif)

Alignment & e e a e fi e

ustification

a s o a anging lines o t

e fi st is ustifie le t agge

19 i

6

is ustifie

e on a age

ig t

econ is Justifie

ig t agge le t

e e all lines a e t e same lengt an align

Both on left and right, fourth is centered where the lines have une ual lengt s an agge on ot si es fi t is an om e e t e a angement as no e icta le atte n an t e lac ment is according to the deisgner.

Justifie le t agge ig t is usuall easie to ea t an Justifie ig t agge le t

Mixing Typefaces Typeface combinations that are too similar can look like a mista e as i ou een e e iment ing it i e ent onts an a o gotten to fi t em o e am le com ining t o neut al sans se i onts li e el etica an ni e s c eates isco ea e s ill sense somet ing a e en i t e can t name it.

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en c oosing t o t e aces make sure that they are really different o e am le com ine sans serif el etica and a serif Garmond or a Slab Serif oc ell an a Sans Serif Universe As a gene al ule mixing typefaces from the same family is a good start in any deisgn!

•• Dont use more than 3 type faces • Dont Dont use use more more than than 3 3 type type faces faces

The Typographic Grid

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Grids play a useful role in almost every area of graphic design. And in layout, a grid is an essential organizational tool.

The grid provides a framework and structure for the combination of type and images.

Grids range from single column grids to multi column grids with modules.

Across multiple pages, a consistent grid enhances communication, brings cohesion and improves legibility.

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