jour1006: introduction to digital media techniques typography … · 2015-03-12 · jour1006:...

JOUR1006: Introduction to Digital Media Techniques

Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Session Plan

● Major Project Review – Deadline 1: Project Content● Invisible type and expressive type● Illustrator Workshop


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Invisible TypeMost people don’t question type, fonts or letters.

In fact, they don’t see them.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

A Compromise?‘Typography has one plain duty before it and that is to convey information in writing. No argument or consideration can absolve typography from this duty.’

Typographie. Emil Ruder (1967)


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Readability & LegibilityLegibility: The ability to recognise the shapes of characters.

ReadabilityThe ability to understand the written message.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

LegibilityIt is dependent on:

– The characters (letter shapes)– The white space in which each letter-form sits– The printing or display method


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

ReadabilityThis relates to issues around extended amounts of text.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Readability–Letter shapes Readability depends on the instant

recognition of letter forms. When characters have odd shapes they are difficult to instantly recognise.(Bauhaus 93)

Readability depends on the instant recognition of letter forms. When characters have odd shapes they are difficult to instantly recognise.(Adobe Caslon Pro)


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

TEXT WRITTEN IN CAPITALS IS HARDER TO READ, BECAUSE PEOPLE READ WORD SHAPES, NOT INDIVIDUAL LETTERS. LETTERS COME IN MANY FORMS. THESE DIFFERING FORMS HAVE DEVELOPED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, SOME AS RESULT OF THE HISTORICAL PRECEDENT OF THE HANDWRITTEN FORMS, SOME FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL INNOVATIONS AND OTHERS STILL AS A RESPONSE TO SOME NEW DEMAND OF THE PRINTED WORD, AS IN GREATER CLARITY OF FORM REQUIRED FOR ADVERTISING OR PUBLIC NOTICES. AS MORE TYPEFACES BECAME AVAILABLE, THERE WAS A NEED TO CLASSIFY THEM AND TO FIND A METHOD OF DENOTING THE SIZE OF A FACE AS IT WAS PRINTED ON THE PAGE.

WHEN GUTENBERG FOUNDED THE TYPE FOR THE 42-LINE BIBLE, HE HAD ONLY TO WORRY ABOUT A SINGLE FACE – THERE WAS ONE CHOICE – THE TEXTURA OR GOTHIC BLACKLETTER FORM BASED ON THE CONVENTIONS OF THE WRITTEN SCRIPT IN USE WITHIN GERMANY DURING THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY.

Text written in capitals is harder to read, because people read word shapes, not individual letters. Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, some for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices. As more typefaces became available, there was a need to classify them and to find a method of denoting the size of a face as it was printed on the page.

When Gutenberg founded the type for the 42-line Bible, he had only to worry about a single face – there was one choice – the textura or Gothic blackletter form based on the conventions of the written script in use within Germany during the fifteenth century.

Readability–All Caps


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Short

Text with too short a line length is tiring to read; your eye has to keep jumping from line to line. Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, some for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices.

Readability–Line Length


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Long

Text with too long a line length is difficult to read because it is difficult to find the start of the next line. Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, some for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices. As more typefaces became available, there was a need to classify them and to find a method of denoting the size of a face as it was printed on the page.


Ideal

The ideal line length is around 65 characters, although anywhere between 45 and 75 can work.

Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, some for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices. As more typefaces became available, there was a need to classify them and to find a method of denoting the size of a face as it was printed on the page.



Fully Justified

Justifying type with too short a length leads to awkward word spacing, creating ‘rivers’. This interrupts the flow of text.

Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices. As more typefaces became available, there was a need to classify them and to find a method of denoting the size of a face as it was printed on the page.


Readability–Justification

Ranged Left

Justifying type with too short a length leads to awkward word spacing, creating ‘rivers’. This interrupts the flow of text.

Letters come in many forms. These differing forms have developed for a variety of reasons, some as result of the historical precedent of the handwritten forms, for typographical innovations and others still as a response to some new demand of the printed word, as in greater clarity of form required for advertising or public notices. As more typefaces became available, there was a need to classify them and to find a method of denoting the size of a face as it was printed on the page.


Readability–Justification


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Great!We’ve got lots of effective rules for typesetting.

But… if typography should be invisible, why isn’t everything set in Helvetica and ranged left?


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Denotation/ConnotationSo far all we have talked about is denotation.

This is what signs (or text) literally mean.

–

Connotation is what is implied.

The choice of typeface and its treatment effect what a word connotes, whilst what it denotes remains the same


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Expressive TypeIt is in its connotations that typography becomes meaningful and expressive.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Expressive TypeHere’s some expressive type

…that is stupid.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Either tell the audience...


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Dog


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

...or show them


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

But don't do both


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Dog


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

It's stupid...


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

ConnotationsType can express lots of things:

– Tone– An idea or philosophy– A story or creative performance– Exclusivity to an audience– A genre or temporal association

and lots else…


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

ConclusionType should communicate.

–

It can do this through denotation (what the words mean) and connotation (what the design implies).

Your role is to know when type should be invisible and when it should be draw attention to itself.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


–

Making type invisible is hard and takes lots of skill. You need to understand:

Legibility (letter shapes, kerning, tracking leading, how its displayed)

Readability(typeface design, word shapes, line length, justification)


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015


–

Making expressive is great, you can suggest:Times, target audiences, philosophies, performance…

This is determined by the typeface you use and how it is typeset.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Illustrator WorkshopLog onto a Mac and open Adobe Illustrator.

–

I’m going to talk you through some basic functions in Illustrator.


Typography 101

Andy Screen 2015

Type TaskCreate an A4 artboard with a CMYK colour space.

You are to typeset this quote so that it expresses its time period, but also reflects how the words would be spoken.

–

‘Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.’

Estella

Great Expectations (1861) by Charles Dickens

jour1006: introduction to digital media techniques typography … · 2015-03-12 · jour1006:...

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