At
the start of this session we had to stick our most legible typeface on the wall
at the back of the room.
We
noted aspects that affected readable.
- Readability is affected by distance.
- Text is more readable when placed on one line.
- Script fonts are never suitable for bulk text.
- Roman fonts were designed for body copy.
- Enlarging a font doesn’t necessarily make it more readable.
We
were then asked to get out the letterforms we were previously asked to collect.
Each font belonged to a different classification of block, gothic, script or
Roman.
Next,
we focused on the manipulation of existing letterforms. Using a length of
tracing paper we were first asked to trace one of our gothic letterforms, I
used the letter ‘B’. Once we had the base size of the letter traced we were
asked to produce two more variations that gradually got bolder. I was careful
to stay within the baseline and x-height so that the font didn’t become a
different size. Instead I increases line thickness working from the outside in.
We repeated the same exercise for a roman letter.
Additionally,
we were next requested to select one letterform and draw what we thought was
the lightest it could possibly be, and the boldest. For both of these
variations I stuck to the rule of working from the outside in so that the
letter size was not affected.
After
creating variations of the letter ‘C’ Fred asked us to select two letterforms,
one uppercase and one lowercase that belonged to the same font family. We then
had to choose to increase the weight of either the stem or bowl of the letters,
based upon their form. As I had chosen the letter ‘B’ I increased the stem
weight.
Finally,
as I increased the weight of the stem I then had to select a new letterform,
and increase the bowl size. I selected the letter ‘A’ belonging to the roman
font. Increasing the bowl size of the lower case ‘a’ was not a problem,
however, the uppercase ‘A’ doesn’t have a bowl, therefor I could not increase
its size.
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