TYPOGRAPHY- TASK 3/TYPE DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION
Typography - Task 3
May 8th, 2023.
16.05.2023 - 27.06.2023 / Week 08 - Week 13
Thanaphorn Daensaad / 0350930
Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) In Creative Media
Thanaphorn Daensaad / 0350930
Typography / Bachelor of Design (Hons) In Creative Media
Instruction
Task 3: Type Design and Communication
For this task, we were required to design a few alphabets and symbols from a
choice of an existing font which is refered as a direction of design. From
that, we have to analyse the existing font, make sketches of our own font
which is then digitized onto Adobe Illustrator. After the digitization
process, we were then required to bring them into FontLab. Then, make a A4
poster on Adobe Illustrator with our font.
Requirements:
1. Research for better understanding on Type Design through websites or book
references.
2. Deconstruction of several letterforms of chosen typeface.
3. Create 5 rough sketches or more (at least 5 letters in each sketch) for
more idea exploration.
4. Digitize 2-3 variation of sketches using Adobe Illustrator.
5. Transfer the digitized sketch into font lab to apply kerning and generate
typeface.
6. Create a final A4 poster using the font designed.
Submission:
1. Final kerning in Fontlab7 (screen grab)
2. Downloadable font in Google drive link.
3. Final Type Design in JPEG & PDF.
4. Final Poster Design; CYMK Colour in JPEG & PDF.
1. Research Process
Anatomy of a typeface
Fig 1.1 Basics of typography, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
Type ClassificationsThe typefaces can be distributed into 4 group which are known as
1. Serif - better readibility, used in book and newspaper printing
2. Sans serif - highly legible, best for brand recognition
3. Scripts - resembles handwriting (more personal and approachable)
4. Decorative - diverse, creates impact
Typography illusions
Overshoot in typography
Known as the part of letterform that extends above or below the vertical dimentions of flatter glyphs. In short words, for example, the uppercase letters that overshoot the cap height or the lowercase letters that overshoot the baseline or the x-height.
Known as the part of letterform that extends above or below the vertical dimentions of flatter glyphs. In short words, for example, the uppercase letters that overshoot the cap height or the lowercase letters that overshoot the baseline or the x-height.
Fig 1.2 Overshoot example, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
Things to consider when creating a typeface
Type of serifs
Type of serifs
Serif refers to either the mark or line that can sometimes appear at the end
of a character’s stroke, or the collective name for typefaces that use serifs
in their design.
Fig 1.3 Types of serifs, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
Weight of the typeface
Refers to the overall thickness of the typeface's stroke. Regular and bold weights are the most common weight.
Refers to the overall thickness of the typeface's stroke. Regular and bold weights are the most common weight.
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Fig 1.4 weight example, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
Stress
The characteristic change of stroke width across all letters of a font. The stress is usually either diagonal, vertical, or there is no or hardly any stress for typefaces with no obvious change of stroke widths.
The characteristic change of stroke width across all letters of a font. The stress is usually either diagonal, vertical, or there is no or hardly any stress for typefaces with no obvious change of stroke widths.
Fig 1.5 stress typeface, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
2. Deconstruction of Letters
For this part, we were required to choose an existing typeface that come close to our design and analyse the letterforms by deconstructing it ( a typeface from the 10 typefaces provided and a typeface other than the ones provided).
Out of the 10 choices, I chose Univers LT Std as it was alittle similar to my letter sketches of a and n.
For this part, we were required to choose an existing typeface that come close to our design and analyse the letterforms by deconstructing it ( a typeface from the 10 typefaces provided and a typeface other than the ones provided).
Out of the 10 choices, I chose Univers LT Std as it was alittle similar to my letter sketches of a and n.
Fig 2.1 Deconstructed letter a and n - Univers LT Std, week 8
(22/05/2023)
For the font of our choice, I chose the Grandstander font family designed by
Tyler Finck, ETC from Google Fonts as I noticed the letter 'e' was abit
similar due to it looking more personal and more humanmade.
Fig 2.1 Deconstructed letter e - Grandstander from Google Fonts, week
8 (22/05/2023)
3. Writing Activity Exploration
We started the task with a writing activity to get ourselves used to the
tools we were using. This allows us to have a consistent stroke angle and
weight. Given instructions were to:
- start with strokes (diagonally,vertically,horizontally,circular) in 5
different ways and tools
- write the letter A,O,T,M,X with 5 different ways and tools
- choose one tool to work with for the next writing which are "a e t k g r
i y m p n" in the style from previous work
Chosen tools:
- Fudenosuke
- Guongna
- Artline
- Chinese calligraphy pen
- Board master
- Copic sketch (for fun)
Fig 3.1 Writing exercise, Week 7 (16/05/2023)
From the activity, I enjoyed using the first and fifth tool as I was
satisfied with the outcome of the letterform. I chose the last one as
the brush tip tool was more fun for me to continue for the next
exercise.
Fig 3.1 Writing "a e t k g r i y m p n" with one tool, Week 7 (18/05/2023)
Fig 4.2 Trials and errors, week 10 (6/6/2023)
Fig 4.3 Final outcome on Adobe Illustrator, week 10
(7/6/2023)
4. Digitization of the letterforms
Making guidelines
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Fig 4.1 Creating guidelines in Adobe Illustrator, week 10
(6/6/2023)
Guideline measurements (from baseline)
Ascender line: 685px
Cap height: 644px
X-height: 500px
Ascender line: 685px
Cap height: 644px
X-height: 500px
Baseline: 0px
Descender height: -221px
Descender height: -221px
Digitization process (sketch to Adobe Illustrator)
After hearing some feedbacks, I noticed I had similar issues where I
was lacking of my exploration on existing fonts that could elevate my
fonts further. I asked for some opinions and tried to improve on my
second attempt. My letter n was abit weird.
We were told to do a hash, period, comma and exclamation marks as an
addition to our font. We were given some info on the internet to look
at in order to learn how to make the symbols.
Developing Font in Fontlab 7
We were required to watch a video on Illustrator to Fontlab 5 before starting the developing process.
We were required to watch a video on Illustrator to Fontlab 5 before starting the developing process.
In the video, we need to make sure to:
- measure the guidelines
- combine the glyphs
- import into fontlab
- import into fontlab
- create a new font file with a name
- enter the measurements
- paste the glyphs and do kerning
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After the importing process, we were required to kern the letters before
proceeding to making a metrics tab to test the fonts.
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Fig 4.5 Kerining process, week 12 (20/6/2023)
After kerning all of the letters, we needed to make a metrics tab to be
able to test the fonts and do the kerning for the letter spacing to make
it less awkward.
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Fig 4.6 Font test, week 12 (20/6/2023)
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5. A4 Poster Design
-A4 size poster with the sentence (with all the letters)
- text same size
- credit description (font name,creator,year)
My idea is to make a simple looking poster as though it's a short note
written on the fridge.
Fig 5.1 A4 poster making, week 12 (20/6/2023)
Fig 5.1 final A4 poster, week 12 (20/6/2023)
Final Task 3: Type Design and Communication
Download font here:
click here
-02.jpg)
Fig 6.1 Final task: AI font "pasta regular" (JPEG), week 12
(20/6/2023)
Fig 6.2 A4 poster (JPEG), week 12 (20/6/2023)
Fig 6.3 AI font "pasta regular" (PDF), week 12 (20/6/2023)
Fig 6.3 A4 poster "pasta regular" (PDF), week 12 (20/6/2023)
Feedback
Week 9
General feedback:
General feedback:
Use less anchor point. Either pen tool first or brush tool first. Use width
tool to manipulate the form.
Specific feedback:
Choose different choices of the letter that you're satisfied.
Week 10
General feedback:
General feedback:
Refer to professional fonts. Should have at least small similarity.
Specific feedback:
Experiment ways to put the dot on the letter i.
Week 11
General feedback:
General feedback:
Hash should have slight off horizontal line followed by vertical line. The
size of hash should be below the cap height.
Specific feedback:
Letter 'y' is not in. The bowl of 'g' and 'y' should touch the baseline.
Week 12
General feedback:
General feedback:
Make sure the font used is Arial/Univers/Helvetica for the detail. All the
letters must be featured. Sentence does not have to make sense.
Specific feedback:
Find a better placement for the text details.
Reflection
Experience
This task was the hardest out of all the previous ones. It was the first time
I ever work on Fontlab and also the first time to make my own font. It was
quite interesting to work on actual tools as it had been awhile since I've
write with a pencil. The experience to write in different styles and different
tip pens was fun as we were able to learn about the outcome from different
angles and pressure. I had the idea to implement my own handwriting as my font
as I find it interesting to be able to make a font that is for personal use
rather than for formal purpose.
Digitizing part was okay as I was used to using the Adobe Illustrator for
other module. Therefore, it was not that much of a struggle. The struggle I
had was when I was doing it on Fontlab but thankfully Mr Vinod made us a
tutorial video to guide us through the software with ease.
In the end of it, I was sastisfied seeing my handwritting being a font that I could eventually use one day when I finished all the letters.
In the end of it, I was sastisfied seeing my handwritting being a font that I could eventually use one day when I finished all the letters.
Observations
The biggest struggle in this task was deconstructing the letters as I had no
idea what I need to do. I tried to look up on it on the internet but I was
still confused. I tried to do what I've seen which are all the circles and
line that could bring out the letter formed. This process made me
procrastinate the most because I was unsure if what I did is right or wrong. I
still struggle with getting my work done on time due to other assignments but
I was able to meet some deadlines and get feedbacks.
Findings
Being able to explore something manually was fun. It had been awhile since I've done something manually as most of my work were focused on being made digitally. From that, I learnt that the best outcome was from manual work then being digitalized as a final product. Although there were trials and errors during the whole process, I am glad that I made it till the end of this task.
Type has been part of our life ranging from communications, reading materials and so on. From that so, we should appreciate type more as from this task I learnt that it took a lot of effort to make a typeface. From now on, I will appreciate the advertisements I see along the streets and commercials on the internet.
Being able to explore something manually was fun. It had been awhile since I've done something manually as most of my work were focused on being made digitally. From that, I learnt that the best outcome was from manual work then being digitalized as a final product. Although there were trials and errors during the whole process, I am glad that I made it till the end of this task.
Type has been part of our life ranging from communications, reading materials and so on. From that so, we should appreciate type more as from this task I learnt that it took a lot of effort to make a typeface. From now on, I will appreciate the advertisements I see along the streets and commercials on the internet.
Further reading
Fig 7.1 I.D.E.A.S Computer Typography Basics (David Creamer)
Font Categories
Font comes in different designs. The categories to clarify the difference are
as shown below:
1.Serif
Serif fonts are the most common text as they work best for headline fonts.
Serifs are the little feet or arms that hand off at the end of letter strokes.
Usually adding a thin or thick look to the leter. The font is the easiest to
read and divided into 3 sub-categories:
- Oldstyle
based on classical Roman incriptions
- Modern
based on fonts designed 200 years ago
- Square Serif
contemporary style
Fig 7.2 Examples of Serif fonts
2. San Serif
Fonts are without serifs, have an overall even stroke weight that creates
contrast for the letters. Generally used for small amounts of copy, subheads,
and headlines but also can be used for larger body copy if applied with care.
It is harder to read (example: Futura)
Fig 7.3 Examples of San Serif fonts
3. Mono-Spaced
Most are propotionally spaced; small characters take less space compared to
larger ones.
Fig 7.4 Examples of Mono-Spaced fonts
4. Display
Designed to be used as attention-grabbing headline. Rarely ever used for body
copy fonts. Suitable for advertising.
Fig 7.5 Examples of Display fonts
5. Script
Designed to mimic handwriting therefore the letters touch one another. More
towards being a traditional type used for formal invitations. Never be used in
all capital letter.
Fig 7.6 Examples of Script fonts
6. Text
Based on handdrawn letters by early monks in religious books. They have an
"old-world" feel to them. More commonly used for certificates, diplomas and
invitations.
Fig 7.7 Examples of Text fonts
7. Dingbats
Symbols that are small pieces of art used to enhance the design of text or
page.
Fig 7.8 Examples of Dingbats fonts
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