Type basics and beginnings including the origins of type and categorising type through characteristics. The categories of type include production (relating to origin, see below) anatomy (stem width, x-height, serif or san serif etc) identity (what, where and when it was used) and character (e.g. decorative, simple, tall, childish, elegant, masculine etc.)
Created using stone, chisel and hammer, the key characteristic of this type is it's serifs, produced from where the chisel had to work it's way into the stone.
Originates from China and Japan with brush script, brush, ink and paper were used for the process. Characteristics include joined-up writing and tapered strokes.
Using ink and paper like with sable but instead of a brush to apply it instead a nib is used. Although sable and bone share many traits (joint writing, hand written look) the stiffness of a nib in place of a brush gives a different quality to the strokes. They're thinner, more controlled and have a harsher feel on the eye and the page.
Wood
The origins of printed text and type, wood is characterised by it's flat apexes and edges and it's chunky, yet even width stems. Type would've been carved out of wood blocks and then rolled over with ink and pressed, due to the intensity of this repeated process many letters would become damaged or broken, wood type looks like it does because these are the most enduring shapes under stress of constant printing.
Lead
Lead type was the next generation of printed text, with letter forms being cast instead of carved, the possibilities for creation and reproduction became even greater than that of wood block. The durability of lead type proved much larger than that of wood block and the type could last much longer than it's predecessor during the printing process. A mix of casting type and the durability of the letters meant that glyphs with thinner stems with serif details were able to be produced and last.
Silicone
Silicone type is the newest category and covers all digitally produced type. Software, programmes and the ability to save, alter and undo mistakes with ease means that silicone type is the most adventurous. The physical letterform only needs to exist on screen or printed paper and so how to print individual glyphs becomes less of a problem. Silicone type has many different examples but usually pushes on being decorative rather than functional .
FOR NEXT SESSION
No comments:
Post a Comment