COM 1005: Assignment #3

Typography

Using the web sites below, explore the concepts and definitions of
typography. Answer the questions below using the information from the
websites, but in your own words.

http://designinstruct.com/tools-basics/the-basics-of-typography/

http://www.creativebloq.com/typography/what-is-typography-123652

http://ilovetypography.com/2008/02/28/a-guide-to-web-typography/

1. What is the spacing between lines of text? Why is this important in

typography?

The space between lines is called leading. Leading can change the

pace of the text, too little leading can make it difficult to red. Too much

leading can make it so your eyes have to travel too far to read the next

line.

2. What is kernelling?

Kerning describes the space between characters. Kerning is important

to make sure no letters collide, and so the text is readable.

3. What does the term alignment mean? What types of alignment options

are there?
 Alignment refers to how text is aligned on the page. Alignment options

include flush left, flush right, justified and centered. Flush left is

aligning the text to the left of the page, flush right is aligning it to the

right. Justified is aligning the text to the left and the right on the end,

this makes it so the text always fits nicely into a box. Centered is when

text is aligned to the middle of the page.

4. Choose two alignment terms from question #2 and describe their

differences.

Justified and centered. Justified aligns the text to both the left and the

right, fitting it into a box, centered aligns the text to the middle,

shrinking the edges of the box.

5. What is a typeface? What is a font?

Typeface is what font text is written in. A font is what style text is

written in.

6. What is type hierarchy?

Hierarchy is a way of displaying how important each piece of text is.

Hierarchy can be achieved with size, emboldening some text,

capitalising some text, or italicizing some text.

7. Provide 3 different examples of a serif font (use font size 20 when

showing examples)
Times New Roman
Courier New
Palatino Linotype
8. Provide 3 examples of a sans serif font
 Helvetica
Arial
Verdana
9. Provide 3 examples of letters that have an ascender
b, h, l
10. Provide 3 examples of letters that have a descender
q, y, p