Parts of the Letter

Typography

• evolved from handwriting 
• which is created by making series of marks by hand
• the fundamental element constructing a letterform is the linear stroke (stem)
• each letter of our alphabet developed as a simple mark whose visual characteristics clearly separated from all others
• by learning the vocabulary, designers and typographers can develop a greater understanding and sensitivity to the visual harmony and complexity of the alphabet
• typography employs a number of technical terms
• knowing the letterform component parts will make it much easier to identify specific typeface in the future 

Terms

• serif: the short strokes that finish off the major strokes of the letterform 
• bracket: a curving joint between the serif and the stroke
• baseline: the imaginary line defining the visual base of the letterform. all letterforms sit on the base line. 
• cap height: the height of the upper case in a font, taken from the baseline to the top of the character. 
• x-height: the height lowercase x. if you compare typefaces of the same point size they may not have the same x-height. refers to the distance between the baseline and the mean line in a typeface.
• ascender: a stroke on a lowercase letter that rises above the x-height 
• descender: a stroke on a lowercase letterform that falls below the baseline
• bowl: the rounded form that describes a counter, the bowl may be either open or closed
• counter: the negative space within a letterform either fully or partially enclosed
• link: the stroke that connects the bowl and the loop of a lowercase letter like a g
• loop: the bowl at the lower part of the lowercase letter such as g, it can be open or continuos 

** A good example of how counterform can be used in design and especially logos is the Fedex logo

Reflection 

This reading was evidentially about the parts of the letter. It went into detail of each part and what makes up different letters. I find typography very interesting and always have. It's amazing how different letters can be, but all come together to make up a word or saying. I find knowing about typography and it's different attributes very useful when it comes to design. Design is all around and within a lot if not most of that design involves typography. It makes up our language, how we label things and how we understand them. When it comes to my field, it will be useful knowing the complicity of typography in order create successful logos, advertisements, etc. It's interesting how simple a letter can be but in reality there can be many different parts to the letter. This reading allowed me to increase my knowledge in identifying specific typeface and parts of letterforms.