Typography WEB141

Fonts to avoid

Some fonts come with extra baggage, including Comic Sans, Curlz, and Papyrus. There's nothing particularly wrong with these fonts—they just have a certain reputation for being outdated and overused.If you find yourself tempted by them, think twice and consider using something else. There are many fonts with a similar look and feel that are less likely to detract from your message.

Combining fonts

When deciding which fonts to use, less is more. It's best to limit yourself to one or two per project. If you need more contrast, try repeating one of your fonts in a different size, weight, or style. This trick is practically foolproof for creating interesting combinations that work.

Opposites attract

You've probably heard that opposites attract. The same is true for fonts. Don't be afraid to combine font styles that are different but complementary, like sans serif with serif, short with tall, or decorative with simple. This can be challenging at first, but don't despair. Look to other designs for inspiration, and soon you'll get the hang of it.

Kerning

Kerning is the space between specific characters. Unlike tracking, it varies over the course of the word because each letter fits together differently.Some fonts have what we call bad kerning, making certain letters look improperly spaced. If a font you're using has bad kerning, it's best to cut your losses and choose something else.

Sans serif font

Sans serif fonts don't have that extra stroke—hence the name, which is French for without serif.This style is considered more clean and modern than serif fonts. Also, it tends to be easier to read on computer screens, including smartphones and tablets. Frankin gothic is a san serif font.

Hierarchy

Hierarchy is used to guide the reader's eye to whatever is most important. In other words, it shows them where to begin and where to go next using different levels of emphasis.Establishing hierarchy is simple: Just decide which elements you want the reader to notice first, then make them stand out. High-level items are usually larger, bolder, or different in some way. Remember to keep it simple and stick to just a few complementary styles.

Leading

Leading (rhymes with wedding) is the space between lines of text, also known as line spacing.If you're not sure how much line spacing to use, don't fret—the default is usually fine. The goal is to make your text as comfortable to read as possible. Too much, or too little spacing can make things unpleasant for the reader.

Serif font

Serif fonts have little strokes called serifs attached to the main part of the letter.Because of their classic look, they're a good choice for more traditional projects. They're also common in print publications, like magazines and newspapers. One classic example of a serif font is Times New Roman.

Typography

Simply put, typography is the style or appearance of text. It can also refer to the art of working with text—something you probably do all the time if you create documents or other projects for work, school, or yourself.

Tracking

Tracking is the overall space between characters, sometimes called character spacing. Most programs let you condense or expand this depending on your needs.In some designs, you might adjust your tracking to create a certain artistic effect. It can also help you fix fonts that are poorly spaced to begin with.