Typography evolved from handwriting. Handwriting refers to a person's unique style of writing characters- by hand, making marks to communicate. The fundamental element in a letter form's construction is the linear stroke. Each letter has visual characteristics separating it from the others.
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible.
It has evolved over 500 years and knowledge of the characteristics, technical terms, and vocabulary associated with typography enables a person to develop a better understanding of the alphabet and it's visual harmony and complexity.
One may identify typeface by specific parts of the letterform.
Terms
serif: the short strokes that finish off the major strokes of the letterform
bracket: a curving joint between the serif and the stroke
*stroke width may vary- some equal proportions, some thinner or wider
baseline: the imaginary line defining the visual base of the letter form. all letterforms sit on the baseline
cap height: the height of the uppercase in a font, taken from the baseline to the top of the character
x-height: the height of lowercase x. comparing typefaces of the same point size, may not have the same x-height.
ascender: a stroke on the lowercase letter that rises above x-height.
descender: a stroke on a lowercase letterform that falls below baseline.
additional terms/parts of letters:
apex, cross bar, vertex, final, terminal, bowl, counter, eye, crossbar, barb, spur, ear, link, loop, tail, arm, crotch, leg, stem
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