Typography has been in existence for many years, in art and design. The digital age has moved it to website designs. It plays an essential part in the general look of the website.
What is Typography
Typography is the technique and art where type is arranged to form language that can be read. The focus is always on the appeal when the type has been arranged. Arranging the type is always a process of choosing the typeface, line length and spacing, and point size. It also involves letter spacing and adjusting the space between letters (kerning). Typography applies to how the letters, numbers and symbols that have been chosen appear.
Understanding the Basics
- Serif: This is when a small projection is put on the tip of a letter troke. It is always in the bottom part of the letter, almost like the letter having little feet to stand. Serifs are meant to give eyes an easy time transitioning through sentences.
- Sans Serif: This is the opposite of having a serif. Most designers think it is trendy and modern. It works best with bigger fonts.
- Typefaces: Simply means the name of the style used in the text. Examples can be Times New Roman, Chalkduster or Georgia etc.
- Fonts: Most people use this to mean typefaces, but choosing fonts goes more in-depth to cover even the size of the typeface used.
- Tracking: This means the space between the characters in a text. In simple terms, it is letter spacing. It is always standard in most cases, but can be adjusted when looking for a different text density.
- Kerning: This is the same as tracking, but it looks into the spacing in characters. It refers to the white space that is found between individual letters.
- Leading: This is the measuring of space between the letters. Basically, it means measuring the distance between the line of text and the line that is below it and above it.