type homework for 8.30.10

weight: The thickness of a character. Light/normal or Bold
width: the horizontal dimensions of a character. The set width is the body of the letter plus a sliver of space that protects it from other letters.
style: design variations of type.  Bold, italic, roman

Type can be measured in points, picas and inches. Picas measure width and points measure height.
point: a measurement roughly the size of a pixel
pica: 1/6 of and inch, also made up of 12 points.
x-height: the height of the main body of lowercase type, excluding ascenders and descenders
cap height: the distance from the top of a capital letter to the bottom
leading: the space between lines of type

type homework for 8.25.10

grid: a guide, aid, tool that designers use to solve both visual and organizational problems in communicating a coherent message

Designers use a grid to organize and lay out tons of information in a short amount of time. It allows multiple designers to work together while maintaining the precise guidelines.

margins: negative spaces between the content of the page and the edge, surrounding the images and type
columns: vertical lines that create horizontal dividers between margins
grid modules: rows and columns of individual units of space
flow lines: lines that break up space into horizontal bands
gutter: area on a spread where type and images could be interrupted

hierarchy: the order of importance of the information based on the style, size, color, rhythm and layout of the type and image
typographic color:  differences in weight, texture or value, and rhythm of type that aid in establishing hierarchy

To achieve a clear hierarchy, designers maintain organization in the spacial distinctions (grouping, shifting items)

here goes nothing...

Well this is the first of many new things i will encounter this year.  Blogging has never been my thing. But maybe that will change, now that it is required of me.  Who knows, maybe i'll enjoy it.