Typography

AN INTRODUCTION

Anatomy of Type

Serif

Slab Serif

Sans Serif

Semi-Sans

Point Size

Stroke

Axis

Contrast

Counter

Bowl

Aperture

Terminal

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz1234567890

Typography

A VISUAL HISTORY

Early Communication 3500BC

Egyptian,

3500 BC - AD 400

Logographic

Early Writing 1050 BC

Phoenician Alphabet

Phoenician1050 BC

22 letters

Adjab = no vowels

Southern Europe to Middle East to Northern Africa

Early Writing 1000 BC

Hebrew Inscription in Italy

Hebrew 1000 BC

22 letters • Adjab = no vowels

Asia Minor

Early Writing 900 BC

Greek Inscription

Greek 900 BC

24 letters • vowels

Asia Minor & Southern Europe

Early Writing 800 BC

Latin Inscription

Etruscan 800-100 BC

26 letters • vowels

Southern Italy

Latin 700 BC

21 letters • vowels

Southern Italy > Western Europe

Evolution of Written Language

Letter B

Transition to Movable Type

Koren woodblocks used for printing

Paper invented in East Asia c. 105 AD

Woodblock Printing Korea, 800 AD

Movable TypeChina, Sung Dynasty C. 1000AD

The Written Word

Book of Kells, AD 800

Movable Type 1450

Cast type and early printing press

Johanes Gutenberg develops technique to cast individual letters in lead and use a modified olive press.

Reproduction now more economic and efficient

Movable Type 1900s

Linotype Machine

Type in the Digital Age

Offset Lithography

Typeface Movements

Simulate handwriting

Humanist axis; pen-formed serifs, large aperture

Variable axis, modelled serifs, moderate aperture

BlackletterSimulated handwriting

Renaissance15-16th century

Baroque17th century

Typeface Movements

Vertical axis, modulated stroke, refined serifs, tear-drop terminals, moderate aperture

Vertical axis; high contrast, thin serifs, ball terminals, small aperature

Neoclassical18th century

Romantic18-19th century

Typeface Movements

Vertical axis, unmodulated stroke, serifs = stroke, or absent, small aperture

Vertical axis; unmodulated stroke, no serifs, moderate aperature

Realist19th -20th century

Geometric Modernist20th century

Typeface Movements

Realist Revisted

Vertical axis, unmodulated stroke, serifs = stroke, or absent, small aperture

Swiss MovementInternational Typeface Movement mid 20th century