Chapter 4
Chapter 4 is all about the legibility of text. The chapter begins with discussing how typographers have a duty to make type legible for the readers sake and legibility is necessary to for the information to be communicated. The chapter goes on to talk about how it is important that the letters of the alphabet all be uniformed and that each letter should always contain the same structure for the sake of legibility. For example “an A should always consist of two oblique strokes joined at the top and connected by a horizontal stroke at their mid-section.” (82)
The chapter the continues to talk about how certain letters can be confused to be others and that is the responsibility of typographers to recognize this. The chapter also discusses how the use of capital and lowercase words can either detract or add to the legibility of words. Furthermore, the chapter begins to talk about the spacing of letter forms. Spacing of letter forms can either make reading more efficient or less efficient. Also the chapter talks about type size, line length and interline spacing. It is important to think about size because small type reduces visibility while large type disrupts flow. Line length and interline spacing are also instrumental in developing good rhythm while reading. Weight, color combinations and formatting are also discussed. Weight can create contrast, color combinations can add dazzle and formatting can increase reader comprehension. Finally the grid the discussed and the grid is important because it is used to structure type and produces cohesiveness.
Chapter 4 is all about the legibility of text. The chapter begins with discussing how typographers have a duty to make type legible for the readers sake and legibility is necessary to for the information to be communicated. The chapter goes on to talk about how it is important that the letters of the alphabet all be uniformed and that each letter should always contain the same structure for the sake of legibility. For example “an A should always consist of two oblique strokes joined at the top and connected by a horizontal stroke at their mid-section.” (82)
The chapter the continues to talk about how certain letters can be confused to be others and that is the responsibility of typographers to recognize this. The chapter also discusses how the use of capital and lowercase words can either detract or add to the legibility of words. Furthermore, the chapter begins to talk about the spacing of letter forms. Spacing of letter forms can either make reading more efficient or less efficient. Also the chapter talks about type size, line length and interline spacing. It is important to think about size because small type reduces visibility while large type disrupts flow. Line length and interline spacing are also instrumental in developing good rhythm while reading. Weight, color combinations and formatting are also discussed. Weight can create contrast, color combinations can add dazzle and formatting can increase reader comprehension. Finally the grid the discussed and the grid is important because it is used to structure type and produces cohesiveness.
This chapter was interesting because
legibility is perhaps the most important aspect of typography because
what is the point of making good looking typography if it can't be
read? Every typographers should be aware of legibility when making
designs and typography. With legibility all we are doing is making
marks.
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 begins where chapter 4 leaves
off and that is the continuation of the typographic grid. According
to the book, “A grid is a skeletal framework used by designers to
organize information with a spatial field.” The grid has been
around since the Mesopotamia era and even for Egypt's hieroglyphics.
The grid is mainly used for the structure of type. Space and position
play a big role in how we perceive type. The space where the type is
set determines how we view the type as either static or non-static.
The grid is broken into several different proportions, handed down
from centuries, such as the golden section. The golden section is the
relationship between two numbers or objects.
Column grids such as the single and
multi-column grids run vertical across the pages. Modular grids
however are divided both vertically and and horizontally and its goal
is to create a “hierarchy between units of information.” Lastly
the chapter discusses improvisational structures which do not follow
the same conventions set by the other grid types.
I feel that this chapter shed a lot of
insight on the structuring of typography on a page and gives the
reader more insight on how meticulous the placement of type of a page
should be. The placement of type should be deliberate and have
meaning rather than random and unclear. Each element should have a
role in the overall meaning of the page and should like-wise paint a
picture. It is important to recognize the relationship that these
elements have with one another rather than looking at each element
separately. When designers begin to understand these relationship and
further work with them then they can truly compose something that is
meaningful and structured.
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