Chapter 7 Summary_Posey

Chapter 7: Typographic Technology

Connor Posey

Typography has been dubbed, in some cases, as the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. It has sparked the creative minds of designers to push and expand typography to its limits. Together, designers and typography form a pair that not only contributes to the make and overall aesthetic, but the hardware and technology that thus produces the works.

Typography is created through design and production. In the early years of typography, hand lettering was the main form of medium. Then new technology began to be developed to better suit the growing form of communication and design. A linotype machine was created in 1886. The monotype machine was created a year later and Ludlow some time later. The Ludlow, unlike the previous machines, did not include a keyboard. Then, a typewriter was formed and soon enough- a computer.

In distorting type, there are many things to consider. First, it is always best to use the specified typeface distorted forms in the font family. If done manually, the typeface may not retain its form in which the designer must fix through bolding, thinning, etc.

It was interesting learning the different forms that are created of the same typeface through the medium used and used upon. On newsprint, the ink runs and gives the type a scratchy, aged look. Phototype has blurred edges on the letterforms. Each medium has a purpose. For example, if recreating an old-time document, one may want to use the newspaper in order to get that natural, scratchy ink lines on the outline of the letterforms. 

Typography is developing rapidly. It has changed from stone, to paper, to typewriters, to current day computers. As new technology is produced, type will continue to change to serve the purposes of the people and businesses of the future. Type inevitably continues to expand.