Beginning Graphic Design: Typography

Typography. It's everywhere we look. In the books we read, on the websites we visit—even in everyday life, on street signs, bumper stickers, and product packaging.

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. Typography can be an intimidating subject, but it doesn't have to be.

You only need to know a little to make a big difference in the stuff you do every day. So let's get started. First: Some common types of fonts, and what you need to know about them.

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.

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.

Display fonts come in many different styles, like script, blackletter, all-caps, and just plain fancy. Because of their decorative nature, display fonts are best for small amounts of text; for example, titles and headers, and more graphic-heavy designs. In a way, fonts have their own language.

They all have something to say, beyond the words on the page. They can come across as casual or neutral; exotic or. .

. graphic. That's why it's important to think about your message, and pick a font that fits.

Some fonts come with a extra baggage, like Comic Sans, Curlz, Papyrus, and many more. There's nothing particularly wrong with these fonts—they just have a certain reputation for being outdated and overused.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. 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. You've probably heard the saying "opposites attract.

" Well, 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. Maybe you've heard terms like kerning, leading, tracking, and hierarchy. For those with more experience, these concepts are essential for creating professional-looking designs.

As a beginner, you don't need to know everything about these terms—just enough to inform your work and help you talk about design with more confidence. 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 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 it unpleasant for the reader. 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. 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.

Well-crafted text can mean the difference between an ordinary project. . .

and an extraordinary project—even if you're just getting started with design. All it takes is an interest in typography, and you'll start to notice more, see more, and be able to do more in your own work. We hope you enjoyed learning the basics of typography.

Don't forget to check out the rest of our design topics, including color, images, and composition.