height

Attempts to standardize the measurement of

type began in the eighteenth century. The point system is the standard used today. One point equals 1/72 inch

or .35 millimeters. Twelve points equal one pica, the

unit commonly used to measure column widths. Typography

can also be measured in inches, millimeters, or pixels.

Most software applications let the designer choose a

preferred unit of measure; picas and points are standard

defaults.

Nerd Alert: Abbreviating Picas and Points

8 picas = 8p

8 points = p8, 8 pts

8 picas, 4 points = 8p4

8-point Helvetica with 9 points of line spacing = 8/9 Helvetica

width

A letter also has a horizontal measure, called its set width.

The set width is the body of the letter plus a sliver of space that

protects it from other letters. The width of a letter is intrinsic to

the proportions and visual impression of the typeface. Some typefaces

have a narrow set width, and some have a wide one.

You can change the set width of a typeface by fiddling with

its horizontal or vertical scale.This distorts the line weight of the

letters,however, forcing heavy elements to become thin, and thin elements

to become thick. Instead of torturing a letterform, choose a typeface

that has the proportions you are looking for, such as condensed, compressed,

wide, or extended.

Size Crime: Vertical or Horizontal Scaling

Size: The Power of X-Heights

Size: Variations on a Typeface

All the typefaces shown below were inspired by the sixteenth-century

printing types of Claude Garamond, yet each one reflects its own era.

The lean forms of Garamond 3 appeared during the Great Depression, while

the inflated x-height of ITC Garamond became an icon of the flamboyant 1970s.

download hi-res pdf: Portrait of Four Garamonds

Optical Sizes

A type family with optical sizes has different styles for different sizes

of output.The graphic designer selects a style based on context. Optical sizes designed for headlines or display tend to have delicate, lyrical forms, while styles created for text and captions are built with heavier strokes.

Optical Sizes: Adobe Garamond Premiere Pro

download hi-res pdf: Optical Sizes