Project 3 – Body and Soul
Readings & Activity
The Science of Typography
Ultimately, in layout design, typographical variables impact the way, people, respond to written words on a page or screen. The font style, point size, line length and spacing, are effectively rule the domain of layout design and, comprise how the message is communicated (Lupton 2004).
How to Choose a Typeface
Understanding how to impact the audience to interact with the text. This goal underlines the process of choosing a Typeface. However, the choice of typeface requires to intermingle of both legibility and readability, while keeping the message on communication clear. I learn from this reading, that thorough understanding of hierarchies, and all other typographical elements is central to communication, and thus, communication comes before style.
Principles of choosing the Typeface
I lear from this reading that, the principles will provide some guidelines for how to pick up and match, apply and mix type. The final goal of selecting typefaces requires a combination of understanding and intuition, and — as with any skill — demands practice.
Dissecting a Layout Activity Progress
I started this exercise by activating the principles, to identify the hierarchy, and labelling the following:
- Heading.
- Subheading.
- Body copy.
- Pull quote.
- Page numbers.
- Header/footer.
Then identify typefaces and point sizes by overlaying text.
At the start, I aligned guidelines to each section, as image, heading, subheading, body-copy, etc and, chunk the layout of each seperate section of hierarchies. To examine each, typeface identified with point size, together, will determine text boxes for each element, which will guide the process to discover the exact match of the original layout grids.
Of each individual section, I search on MyFonts website, to match the font. And with, try and error examine again the closet match to the typeface. Having this correct, I overlay the text, bring the point size to the close, and manage to align my typesetting to the original.
I find it is best to print the original and, with the Type gauge provided to double check again the chosen point size. It was confusing to find the the text based document must be checked against print and match, and not only rely on the on screen adjustments.
The question is, why that happen? If the point size match on screen and make my type set firm above the original, why it becomes smaller on the printed document?
On the printed sheet, point size is between 40-42 pt, while the on screen point size is 52 pt. I wish I get an answer. However, I proceed with the exercise, to match the heading section.
Applying tracking and kerning, assist in getting my typeset close to the original. And now, I have to do the same process for the subheading, bodycopy, etc.
After many steps, I come up, with what I assume it can be close to the original document.
I did further exercising by setting up style sheet, paragraph and character to each section. That will ensure consistency and make it easy to align the same style across the whole document.
Finally, this exercise is an effective way to manage project 3 professionally, without an waste of time.