“Typefaces are to the written word what different dialects are to different languages.”

-Steven Heller

The dissection of type includes;

• Strokes - the lines that make up characters.
• Serifs - the small tails at the end of strokes.
• Baseline - the line on which all character rest. Characters (such as: g, j, p, q, y) may go below the baseline, however the main shape of the letter form sits on the baseline; these are called descenders.
• Cap-Height - the line where uppercase letters stop. Some lower case character may go above the cap; these are called ascenders.
• X-Height - the distance between the baseline and the average height of lowercase letters.
• Weight - The majority of typefaces come with different weights (light, regular, bold, italic) which can be used to together to emphasise or draw attention to parts of text.
• Kerning - the space between letterforms. Kerning makes text legible.
• Line Length - the amount of words on a line. Ideal line length for bodies of text is 40-60 characters.

Types of Type

Blackletter Typefaces - used letter forms similar to the handwriting of the time.