Typography- #2

I meant to provide the following link in my last post. After resolving some technology issues here it is.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki6rcXvUWP0




This youtube clip is very cute and offers us a general understanding of the basics in using type.
By now we should know the following concerning the ELEMENTS of TYPE
1. typography – the study of type and letterforms
2. elements of type - the separate parts of letterforms
3. type format - the arrangement of type on a page
4. form - the creation of something beautiful
5. layout - page design
6. categories - similar groups
7. elements of type - the separate parts of letterforms
8. baseline - the bottom of a line of type, excluding the descender
9. horizontally - sideways, across the page
10. freeform - a freely drawn shape, an irregular curve
11. text - non-headline type, the basic words in the body of a document
12. ascender - the part of a lower case letter that extends above the mid-point (or x-height)
13. mid-point - the part of lower case letters which excludes the ascender and descender, also called the x-height
14. descender - the part of a lower case letter that extends below the baseline
15. categories - similar groups
16. serif - the fine line that finishes off the stroke of a letter
17. sans serif - type which does not include serifs
18. x-height - the part of lower case letters which excludes the ascender and descender, also called the mid-point
19. ascenders - the part of a lower case letter that extends above the mid-point (or x-height)
20. descenders - the part of a lower case letter that extends below the baseline

The below image includes some other definitions we need to include in our general understanding...

Typography

The Purpose of Typography 

Regardless of era, culture, language, or medium, typography has evolved as both a science and art for one main purpose: to make words easier to understand and more meaningful to read.
• typography is manipulation, control, and experimentation of how to use type to express meaning in the ideas the letters attempt to communicate.
• Typography determines the mood, style, and flow of a piece of work
• Bad use of typography can alter successful design into design that is tacky and amateur.
• Typography is also a form of communication and it is the designer’s responsibility to communicate as clear as possible.

Typographic images generally follow a format of four principles...

1. repetition, 
   
2. contrast, 
   
3. proximity, 
   
4. alignment. 
   

This of course is not the end of it, there is much more to understand and learn. 

Ok, lets get started with a general understanding of how text can be used. The following site is a good one for us beginners. It is appropriately entitled... "Typography Essentials - A Getting Started Guide". The site has some good start up hints for us all. It will give us the basics about Kerning, leading, type alignment, serif vs san-serif etc.


http://freelancefolder.com/typography-essentials-a-getting-started-guide/



Here is an youtube quickie that shows text "expressing" itself. Notice how the artist did not rely on distinguishable shapes or images.

 

In this next youtube, concentrate how the artist uses the same font over and over, changing only the size and tone to create the expressions viewed.  Also, study how they use direction (horizontal and vertical) in concert with size and style on the specific font.....

Ok, these last two videos are more of Kinetic typography (type in motion), but they definitely explore how words and letters can be very expressive and yet controlled... like a fine work of art. The thing I most want you to walk away from this is that "Type" needs to be seen as more then just a word or words. We need to begin to see them as elements in our design... as pictures and shapes which need to be carefully considered concerning size, shape, color, opacity, contrast, spacing, and choice of font. 

Watch this one last video from youtube...

PhotoShop photo touchup

Below is one example I found on youtube of the tools we our currently using in our "touch-up" exercise. Let me know if you cannot replicate this on your own. There are many other sites you can use.

The following are just a few links you can use to further your understanding of the tools found in PhotoShop as well as creative approaches used in the program.... Believe me, there are plenty more....

http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Photoshop/1
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/10/adobe-photoshop-tutorials-best-of/
http://pstutorialsblog.com/