J331 Graphics Typography notes

Things to know about history and theory of type. This is NOT comprehensive!

Resources: offset technology (see Evans)

www.newsu.org: phototypesetting
typography for news design computer typesetting
Beaird: ch 4 typography (remember the Daily Titan online:
Google: “overbeck fullerton titan”)
contributions of:
Manny the Mammoth font - typeface - family - alphabet
Babylonians - cuneiform serif vs sans serif
Egyptians - hieroglyphics slant: italic, oblique, Roman
Phoenecians - alphabet weight - boldness
CHINESE - paper, printing case - remember derivation
Greeks, Romans color
Italian renaissance monks type color - density
linespacing - leading
role of scribes and monks letterspacing - tracking - kerning
use of woodblocks (woodcuts)
ascender, descender
Johannes Gutenberg 1450s: x-height and why it matters
used olive/wine press baseline, top line, cap line, mid- or waistlne,
dropline
used paper
used oil-based ink
inches, picas, points
had punch system for making new letters
KNOW THE MATH
imitated illuminated manuscripts
1” = 6 p = 72 pts
know what each is used for
technology stagnates for 350-400 years

“Type is measured in points from the top of the

rotary press - 1800
ascender to the bottom of the descender.”
steam press - 1810
American “penny press” - 1830s
TOP TO DROP

typewriter - 1860 on
linotype - 1870 on