GOOD stuff... really enjoyed the depth of the topic you wrote about. How about some more in-depth discussions on correct punctuation (hanging, also placement -- inside or outside quotes and parenthesis?) also maybe help with type on a page as it relates to a grid (really want more in-depth info about this!) THANK YOU - from a fellow typoholic.
I read your article with interest and I am very aware of kerning problems with fonts in different applications and try to adjust accordingly. By far my biggest challenge is in Illustrator! In my current position I use illustrator almost exclusively - ads, packaging etc. My problem is kerning in illustrator before I make the font in outline - which I have to do with how my designs are used for production. Anyway how can I kern letters effectively without pulling everything over from right to left. I try highlighting one letter at a time or multiple letters and it pulls everything left and right tighter. I don't know if this makes sense but let me know if you need me to clarify a little more?
I am an amateur, a student of graphic design, and have been exposed to much information during the past two years, including some texts that are considered standards in the field. I cannot recall anything that is so rich in useful information in so brief a space as this first column of yours.
I congratulate you on a propitious beginning and look forward to seeing more.
Would you resolve this issue I am questioned about regarding my type-specing (believe it or not) for a compositor outfit in India! The query and my answer back follow. Please correct me if I am wrong :-) Ginny
Hi Brian. Your understanding of what we want based on the PDF sample is
correct. In the compositor's terms we want cap/lowercase so that each word
starts with a cap. However, their terminology is backwards from
traditional type specifying language. "Initial caps" means each word
starts with a cap letter (notice the plural on "caps" which carries it
along to all words) and cap/lowercase means the first word is capped and
the rest are lc (notice "cap" is singular).
:-) Ginny
> Hi Ginny,
>
> Please see the query below, from the compositor, in blue:
>
> We have a question on the heads in the Educational Activities section.
>
> The specs for these heads indicate ³initial caps² which to us normally
> means
> that only the first letter of the entire head is capitalized (initial
> cap/lowercase). However, from looking at the sample pages, I believe that
> the first letter of each word should be capitalized. (We normal see this
> written as cap/lowercase.) Can you please confirm correct style?
>
> Please let us know what you¹d like.
First, my thanks to all of you who have been so positive in your comments on my first column for Creative Pro. I hope you’ll keep that feedback coming and let me know if I’m getting too general, too specific, too arcane, or whatever. Suggestions for column topics are always welcome.
Now, answers to specific comments above:
#2 Initial Caps and Lower Case
In these situations it doesn’t really matter who’s using the terminology properly if the communication is unsuccessful. The best solution is to use the directive, “C/lc as typed.” In other words, use the capitalization scheme as it’s expressed in the manuscript given to the typesetter. If you’re creating a style guide for the typesetter to follow, be as explicit as possible about which words need capitalization. The only shorthand that you can use is what you both know the precise meaning of. I’ve seen the phrase “sentence capitalization” used to describe situations in which only the first word of the phrase is capitalized. The complement to this would be “headline capitalization,” in which all words except articles and prepositions are capitalized. But some house styles may insist that even propositions should be capitalized, so this too should be explicitly spelled out in advance.
But in any case, all that “c/lc” indisputably indicates is that the text is not all caps, nor is it all lower case. “Initial caps” is also vague in the same way. Relying on assumed understandings of such terms is a formula for misunderstandings.
#5 Kerning in Illustrator
When kerning, you’re removing space, so the adjoining type has to go somewhere. In Illustrator, kerning to tighten spacing will always draw the type toward the margin to which the text is aligned. If the line of type is aligned flush left, the text to the right of the kerning adjustment will slide to the left. In flush-right settings, text to the left of the kerning adjustment will slide to the right. In centered copy, type on both sides of the kerning adjustment will edge toward the cursor position to keep the line centered in its frame.
Your problem seems to arise from the kerned type moving in an inappropriate way relative to something else: a graphic, a margin, other type. I don’t know what that this. But by changing the margin alignment, you should be able to control that relative positioning. Does this make sense to you? Have I understood correctly what’s going on? If not, let me know.
#6 GREAT article!!!
Thanks for your suggestions. I’ll put both of them on my to-do list, but I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll see them online. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and it’s difficult to create a good mix of topics so that there’s something for everyone working with type. But with a new topic posted every 2 weeks or so, you shouldn’t have to wait long.
for your considered and intelligent (not "clever") writing style. This article reveals the hand of a master of his trade, and of communication. I will watch eagerly for more.
Well done!
I have read quite a few typography books and this exposition was clear, succinct, and right on the money. Well done! Please continue.
GREAT article!!!
GOOD stuff... really enjoyed the depth of the topic you wrote about. How about some more in-depth discussions on correct punctuation (hanging, also placement -- inside or outside quotes and parenthesis?) also maybe help with type on a page as it relates to a grid (really want more in-depth info about this!) THANK YOU - from a fellow typoholic.
Kerning in Illustrator
I read your article with interest and I am very aware of kerning problems with fonts in different applications and try to adjust accordingly. By far my biggest challenge is in Illustrator! In my current position I use illustrator almost exclusively - ads, packaging etc. My problem is kerning in illustrator before I make the font in outline - which I have to do with how my designs are used for production. Anyway how can I kern letters effectively without pulling everything over from right to left. I try highlighting one letter at a time or multiple letters and it pulls everything left and right tighter. I don't know if this makes sense but let me know if you need me to clarify a little more?
First Column
I am an amateur, a student of graphic design, and have been exposed to much information during the past two years, including some texts that are considered standards in the field. I cannot recall anything that is so rich in useful information in so brief a space as this first column of yours.
I congratulate you on a propitious beginning and look forward to seeing more.
Bern
Excellent
Excellent article! Thank you for putting this together.
Initial caps vs cap/lowercase
Would you resolve this issue I am questioned about regarding my type-specing (believe it or not) for a compositor outfit in India! The query and my answer back follow. Please correct me if I am wrong :-) Ginny
Hi Brian. Your understanding of what we want based on the PDF sample is
correct. In the compositor's terms we want cap/lowercase so that each word
starts with a cap. However, their terminology is backwards from
traditional type specifying language. "Initial caps" means each word
starts with a cap letter (notice the plural on "caps" which carries it
along to all words) and cap/lowercase means the first word is capped and
the rest are lc (notice "cap" is singular).
:-) Ginny
> Hi Ginny,
>
> Please see the query below, from the compositor, in blue:
>
> We have a question on the heads in the Educational Activities section.
>
> The specs for these heads indicate ³initial caps² which to us normally
> means
> that only the first letter of the entire head is capitalized (initial
> cap/lowercase). However, from looking at the sample pages, I believe that
> the first letter of each word should be capitalized. (We normal see this
> written as cap/lowercase.) Can you please confirm correct style?
>
> Please let us know what you¹d like.
Filling a gap (blank space)
Your article is just what we need: A clear and sensible approach and insight into a major element of typography. Thanks very much.
Jim Felici replies to your comments
Dear All,
First, my thanks to all of you who have been so positive in your comments on my first column for Creative Pro. I hope you’ll keep that feedback coming and let me know if I’m getting too general, too specific, too arcane, or whatever. Suggestions for column topics are always welcome.
Now, answers to specific comments above:
#2 Initial Caps and Lower Case
In these situations it doesn’t really matter who’s using the terminology properly if the communication is unsuccessful. The best solution is to use the directive, “C/lc as typed.” In other words, use the capitalization scheme as it’s expressed in the manuscript given to the typesetter. If you’re creating a style guide for the typesetter to follow, be as explicit as possible about which words need capitalization. The only shorthand that you can use is what you both know the precise meaning of. I’ve seen the phrase “sentence capitalization” used to describe situations in which only the first word of the phrase is capitalized. The complement to this would be “headline capitalization,” in which all words except articles and prepositions are capitalized. But some house styles may insist that even propositions should be capitalized, so this too should be explicitly spelled out in advance.
But in any case, all that “c/lc” indisputably indicates is that the text is not all caps, nor is it all lower case. “Initial caps” is also vague in the same way. Relying on assumed understandings of such terms is a formula for misunderstandings.
#5 Kerning in Illustrator
When kerning, you’re removing space, so the adjoining type has to go somewhere. In Illustrator, kerning to tighten spacing will always draw the type toward the margin to which the text is aligned. If the line of type is aligned flush left, the text to the right of the kerning adjustment will slide to the left. In flush-right settings, text to the left of the kerning adjustment will slide to the right. In centered copy, type on both sides of the kerning adjustment will edge toward the cursor position to keep the line centered in its frame.
Your problem seems to arise from the kerned type moving in an inappropriate way relative to something else: a graphic, a margin, other type. I don’t know what that this. But by changing the margin alignment, you should be able to control that relative positioning. Does this make sense to you? Have I understood correctly what’s going on? If not, let me know.
#6 GREAT article!!!
Thanks for your suggestions. I’ll put both of them on my to-do list, but I can’t tell you exactly when you’ll see them online. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and it’s difficult to create a good mix of topics so that there’s something for everyone working with type. But with a new topic posted every 2 weeks or so, you shouldn’t have to wait long.
JF
Thank you
for your considered and intelligent (not "clever") writing style. This article reveals the hand of a master of his trade, and of communication. I will watch eagerly for more.
Very clear and well done
Very clear and well done article. Thanks!
This was a great column and
This was a great column and I look forward to your upcoming columns on type!