typographic
Concerning printed characters
Typographic relates to the arrangement and appearance of printed text.
It covers the selection of typefaces, spacing, sizing, and layout that affect how words look on a page or screen: typographic errors, typographic design.
A typographic error—often shortened to typo—is a mistake in printed or typed text.
Lettering style design
- serifLetter terminal flourish
- sans-serifType without terminal strokes
- monospaceUniform-width character display
- italicSlanted letter style
bold · blackletter · script · display · cursive · grotesque · geometric · humanist
A character's visual structure
- characterNature, symbol, or role
- ligatureCord for binding
- swashWater flowing over ground
- glyphVisual form of character
dingbat · ampersand · numeral · punctuation · diacritical · ascender · descender · x-height
Correct relative positioning
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- columnVertical structural element
- gutterEdge channel for runoff
margin · baseline · indentation · orphans · widows · pagination · folio · pull-quote
Exact location or meaning
- picaPrinting measurement unit
- emTypographic measurement unit
- enHalf-em space measure
- unitIndividual part or measure
baseline · x-height · measure · grade · weight · width · slant
Letter-pair spacing adjustment
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- letter-spacingInter-character distance control
- metricsStandards for assessment
proportional · tabular · justification · flush · ragged
Ease of understanding text
- clarityState of being understandable
- contrastNotable difference between things
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- scannableCapable of being read electronically
accessible · hinting · anti-aliasing · subpixel · rendering · OpenType · TrueType · responsive
typeface
Lettering style design
- serifLetter terminal flourish
- sans-serifType without terminal strokes
- monospaceUniform-width character display
italic · bold · blackletter · script · display · cursive · grotesque · geometric · humanist · condensed
letterform
A character's visual structure
glyph · dingbat · ampersand · numeral · punctuation · diacritical · ascender · descender · x-height · counter
alignment
Correct relative positioning
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- gridFramework of intersecting lines
- columnVertical structural element
gutter · margin · baseline · indentation · orphans · widows · pagination · folio · pull-quote · caption
point
Exact location or meaning
unit · baseline · x-height · measure · grade · weight · width · slant
kerning
Letter-pair spacing adjustment
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- leadingGuiding or pacing type
- letter-spacingInter-character distance control
metrics · proportional · tabular · justification · flush · ragged
readability
Ease of understanding text
- clarityState of being understandable
- contrastNotable difference between things
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
scannable · accessible · hinting · anti-aliasing · subpixel · rendering · OpenType · TrueType · responsive
letterpress
Printing from raised surfaces
- GutenbergPrinting press inventor's name
- linotypeLine-casting printing machine
- typesetArrange text for printing
compositor · chase · galley · proof · phototypesetting · punch · matrix · sort · case · impression
- poster stylesart deco, vintage, retro, propaganda, movie poster
typographichandwritten
Written by hand
manuscript · calligraphic · scripted · inscribed · penned
typographicillustrative
Serving to explain
pictorial · photographic · graphic · imagistic · iconographic
- typographical errorsMistakes in printed text
typography, typographical, typographer, typographers, typographically