Typography
the art and technique of arranging type to make written language
legible, readable, and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point sizes, line
lengths, line-spacing (leading), and letter-spacing (tracking), and
adjusting the space between pairs of letters (kerning[1]). The term
typography is also applied to the style, arrangement, and appearance of
the letters, numbers, and symbols created by the process. Type design is a
closely related craft, sometimes considered part of typography; most
typographers do not design typefaces, and some type designers do not
consider themselves typographers.[2][3] Typography also may be used as an
ornamental and decorative device, unrelated to communication of
information.
Typography is the work of
typesetters (also known as compositors), typographers, graphic designers,
art directors, manga artists, comic book artists, graffiti artists, and,
now, anyone who arranges words, letters, numbers, and symbols for
publication, display, or distribution, from clerical workers and
newsletter writers to anyone self-publishing materials. Until the Digital
Age, typography was a specialized occupation. Digitization opened up
typography to new generations of previously unrelated designers and lay
users. As the capability to create typography has become ubiquitous, the
application of principles and best practices developed over generations of
skilled workers and professionals has diminished[citation needed]. So at a
time when scientific techniques can support the proven traditions (e.g.,
greater legibility with the use of serifs, upper and lower case, contrast,
etc.) through understanding the limitations of human vision, typography as
often encountered may fail to achieve its principal objective: effective
communication.
This page was created by Carly Townsend-Anger