Setting word spacing trick in InDesign

Here is a very efficient and worthy skill to know to get smoother body copy. This works particularly well in Justified type. Sorry that this is only for Indesign, but you Quark users can look in your Hyphenation & Justification dialog box and check that out.



**NOTE THAT in Indesign you SHOULD NOT set the Glyph Scaling to more than 97 %, 100%, and 103% as fonts may warp.

Typeface Anatomy and Glossary

Here’s a glossary of common type terminology, which along with the FAQs may answer many font related questions.

Kerning Tips

TypeTalk is a regular blog on typography. Post your questions and comments by clicking on the Comments icon above. If Ilene answers your question in the blog, you'll receive one Official Creativepro.com T-Shirt!

Q. Kerning is a black art I have yet to get my head around. How much is too much? Is it purely visual or can it be mathematical?

A. Kerning is the adjustment of space between two specific characters. While there usually are hundreds of kern pairs built into a font, sometimes you have to make manual kern adjustments -- mostly to display type -- to balance out the negative spaces between some letter combinations.

Continue reading more......

Part 1: the Basic Principles.

Part 2: The Series on Kerning

More Ellen Lupton: InDesign Crash Course and Type Crimes

Hello!

INTERMEDIATE DESIGN
genevieve williams
spring 2010
egenevievewilliams@gmail.com
ta: elisa maezono
ehmaezono@gmail.com

My name is Elisa, I'll be your ta this semester.

This is the class blog where you'll find your assignments, inspiration, events, tips and resources.

Update your own blogs regularly with your progress and offer feedback on the work of your classmates.
[email me your blog addresses when you create them so I can add them to the list!]
**DISABLE WORD VERIFICATION in the settings of your blog (under comments at the bottom)**

This blog is a mine of resources - SPEND SOME TIME EXPLORING IT!
look back at old postings, check the side bar for loads of links to resources, our favorite fonts list, and older students' blogs for examples.

work hard and have fun!

-elisa

First Assignment and Thinking With Type

project one: type specimen book

research:
1) purchase ellen lupton’s book “thinking with type” and read it!
2) thorough understanding and application of the first two chapters, “letter” and “text” due 9.8, 9.10.
3) here’s a link to some of her students’ projects.
go there. download her students’ pdfs. have a look.

You can purchase Thinking with Type on Amazon or pick it up from Barnes and Noble or the Strand.

here's a link to the website for the book!



process:
1) design a sixteen page signature using twelve typefaces not found on your computer.
2) choose three serif display faces, three sans serif display faces, three serif text faces, three sans serif text faces.
3) use a text from a short story, part of a novel, long poem, or other text of your choice.
4) set (and kern properly) display faces and text blocks
5) be inventive with the form and binding of your signature

examples:

Check out David Barlow's Type Bureau Type Specimen book. Download it for your self and study it!!


student examples:

Type Index

January 15, 2010
Each year, HOW magazine compiles a list of type foundries to help graphic designers find the best fonts for their projects.
Click here to download a comprehensive list of typeface foundries, as seen in the February issue of HOW!

NYT: A Guided Tour in the Palm of Your Hand

ARTS / ART & DESIGN | January 15, 2010
Art Review | 'Design USA': A Guided Tour in the Palm of Your Hand
By ROBERTA SMITH
With its use of the iPhone as a curating device, the new show at the Cooper-Hewitt is less an exhibition than an extra-large design seminar in your head.

Type Basics

100% practical. Sketches have been made to explain some basic issues in type design during the workshops. They get used to point out some problems which raise while creating a new typeface. Only some foundations are shown, no deep sophisticated details.

Pentagram Christmas Cards

Every Christmas since 1971, Pentagram has designed and published a small annual greetings booklet and sent it to our friends, colleagues and clients. Usually designed around a game or activity, these small books are intended to provide a diversion during the hectic holiday period. The partners take turns researching and designing the books, which traditionally avoid any direct reference to the season, adopting a strong graphic vocabulary in order to set them apart from the myriad of cards received at this time of year.

Wallpaper has put together a gallery of the books from Christmases past, 1974-2008, published together for the first time. The 2009 card, currently in the mail, tweaks the format. (More on this soon.) Happy holidays!

What Type Are You?

answer four questions to find out what type you are!

Type Samples

design isn't always as groundbreaking as it may seem...take a look at some of these layout schemes:

NYT: Mistakes in Typography Grate the Purists

ARTS | November 16, 2009
Design: Mistakes in Typography Grate the Purists
By ALICE RAWSTHORN
Typographic gaffes often crop up in various public places as well as in television programs and movies, offending designers who work with typefaces on a daily basis, and study them lovingly.

All Things Typographic 1/10

From Ilene Strizver, founder of The Type Studio


logo sm
Happy New Year to all!
-- TypeTalk: You ask, we answer
-- Exploring Type-Creation Software
-- Alphabet Updated with 15 New Letters!
-- Gourmet Typography returns to SVA in NYC
-- Upcoming Typography Workshop in Boston
-- Bring Gourmet Typography to your company, school, or organization


If this email is not displaying properly, you can view it here. Previous editions can be viewed here.

TypeTalk: You ask, we answer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TypeTalk Q. I'm tired of manually cleaning up text formatting in InDesign: replacing dumb quotes, double word spaces, double hyphens, and the like. Even with Find/Change, it takes too long. Is there a faster way? Check it out...

Q. What is the difference between GIF files and JPG files? Which is better for type? Check it out...


Exploring Type-Creation Software
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
font production Today's ever-expanding digital world has made it possible for anyone with a computer to try their hand at undertakings previously left to the skillful hands of highly trained artists, designers and technicians. Typeface design and font creation have been democratized, so to speak, by the availability and affordability of a wide range of type development software packages.

While knowing this software does not automatically endow the user with the talent, skill, visual acuity and experience necessary to create professional-level fonts, it offers a starting point that can take many directions, or at the very least, give the user a better understanding of what goes into a well-designed typeface, and ultimately, a quality font. Read on...


Alphabet Updated with 15 New Letters!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
alphabet update Dynamic, sleek, and even sexy is how a panel of typographic and marketing experts described the 15 new replacement letters they unveiled Monday in an effort to reinvigorate interest in the faltering English alphabet. "Forget everything you thought you knew about reading and writing," announced David Greenberg, 34, lead designer of the exciting ABC makeover. "These new letters are hip, fresh, and sure to forever change the way English speakers everywhere form their words." Take a look...


Gourmet Typography returns to SVA in NYC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
sva Once again, Ilene teaches her ever-popular Gourmet Typography class at School of Visual Arts in NYC. Take control of your type instead of letting it control you. Learn the typographic skills and secrets of type experts, including selecting the right typeface, mixing type, techniques for emphasis, fine-tuning your type, kerning and spacing, as well as typographic do's and don'ts. This course will raise the level of your design and production skills and instill an excitement and passion for typography. Check it out...


Upcoming Typography Workshop in Boston
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
handsm Every creative professional, including the most seasoned designer, can benefit from learning to communicate more effectively with type. This workshop will give you the expert-level typographic skills and aesthetics necessary to visibly improve your type. It will sharpen your eye and reignite your passion for typography.

Typography for Print: The Finer Points
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
Boston, MA
Friday, January 8

If you'd like to see Gourmet Typography come to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or any other city, let me know! Ilene


Bring Gourmet Typography to your company, school, or organization
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gourmet Typography In today's competitive market, you need all the edge you can get. Whether you are a student or a professional, having strong typographic skills should be at the top of your list.

Bring Gourmet Typography Training right to your company, school or organization! Workshops are customized for groups of any size and designed to fit your specific needs. Sessions are scheduled for your convenience - daytime, evenings or weekends. We will design a program customized for your particular requirements.

SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES: Special pricing, call 203.227.5929 for details.

"I found your class to be the missing link in the field of graphic design. I have had type classes before and the content is mostly about the structure of fonts, word usage style and then how to see type as a design element. Very important classes, but not all inclusive. Having been in the field for over 16 years, I was surprised how much I learned and some of the practical information about what to do with fonts. Thanks again!"

For more info, click here or call 203.227.5929.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
info@thetypestudio.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Swipe Files: Mikey Burton's Idenity Work

Monday Class

In case you didn't get Gen's email and are checking the blog, here is a message about Monday's class:

folks,

only 9 of you want to show up for the last classes...

tomorrow.

so, i'm gonna come in late (what else is new), but later than usual and leave earlier.

for nine folks i think 3 hours is plenty, no?

so, let's make it 5-8pm.

that gives us daytime hours and evening hours for both type class and intermediate design.

i'll start grading right after.

look forward to your good work.

see you tomorrow.

g.

btw. there's been no snow plow here and it's going to snow here again tomorrow.

so, please check your emails in case there's an emergency and i cannot get out.

thanks.

FINAL CRIT

Hi folks,

REMINDER:

GEN IS GRADING FROM THE BLOGS MONDAY NIGHT right after class.

gen cannot remember everything you have showed in class, so if it's not posted, it doesn't exist.

please POST ALL WORK you want considered toward a grade on your blog by 9pm, monday the 21st.

please do not send work via email for gen to look at to grade.

did i mention post?

POST!

[side note: i'm home in cali so won't be present for the last class but i'll look at all your blogs!! feel free to email me if you have any questions]

-e

Debbie Millman / Design Matters

Design Matters, the long running design radio show by Debbie Millman, is making the jump to the small screen. SVA is producing a TV version of the show and will be taping the pilot episode this Friday. The first two guests are Milton Glaser and Stefan Sagmeister. To top it all off, the show will be directed by the wonderful Hillman Curtis.

The taping is open to the public!

The INVITE:

Debbie Millman, Hillman Curtis and Richard Wilde
invite you to the taping of the Design Matters Television Pilot
December 11, 2009

9:00am-6:00pm

Debbie will be interviewing
legendary designers Milton Glaser and Stefan Sagmeister
in front of a live, studio audience

School of Visual Arts Theater
333 West 23rd Street
New York City

Taping Schedule:
9-1: Debbie's monologues
2-6: Interviews with Milton and Stefan (separately)

Facebook event site.
http://debbiemillman.blogspot.com/

via http://blog.iso50.com/2009/12/07/debbie-millman-design-matters/

All Things Typographic 12/09

From Ilene Strizver, founder of The Type Studio

Holiday greetings! Here's the latest scoop: -- TypeTalk: You ask, we answer -- Typeface as decoration: Thinking outside the alphabetical box -- Typembrya -- Homage to Velvet Touch Lettering -- Upcoming Typography Workshops -- Gourmet Typography Discount LAST MONTH -- The Type Studio now on Twitter

TypeTalk: You ask, we answer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Q. Most design software lets me stretch and squeeze characters, but I'm not sure how far is too far. Are there acceptable parameters for distorting type? Check it out... Q. I'm bored with the look of digital fonts, even the ones that try to look grungy. Do I have other options? Check it out...

Typeface as decoration: Thinking outside the alphabetical box ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Type is usually meant to be read. But not always! With a little imagination, you can use many typefaces to create engaging decorative elements. You can apply your original ornamentation to just about anything, from greeting cards and announcements to posters, book covers and editorial spreads. You can also use decorative type elements effectively on the Web and other dynamic applications. Read on...

Typembrya ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This short film shows a typographic mutation of an ampersand, inspired by current biotechnology methods. Created by Oded Ezer, Typembrya is a personal homage to the Mother & Child logo, designed by the legendary Herb Lubalin in 1967. Take a look...

Homage to Velvet Touch Lettering ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Steve Heller's wonderfully nostalgic homage to the transfer type of the pre-computer (B.C.) era..."It was the wee hours of Monday morning some months back when my computer died while I was designing a brochure that had to be finished later that day. Without a computer what could I do? Dependency is a horrible thing. But rather than self-indulgently wallow in misfortune, I walked over to a flat file where I stored dozens of old press type sheets." Check it out...

Upcoming Typography Workshops ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Every creative professional, including the most seasoned designer, can benefit from learning to communicate more effectively with type. This workshop will give you the expert-level typographic skills and aesthetics necessary to visibly improve your type. It will sharpen your eye and reignite your passion for typography. Typography for Print: The Finer Points Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) Boston, MA Friday, January 8 If you'd like to see Gourmet Typography come to Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or any other city, let me know! Ilene

Gourmet Typography Discount LAST MONTH ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In today's competitive market, you need all the edge you can get. Whether you are a student or a professional, having strong typographic skills should be at the top of your list. Bring Gourmet Typography Training right to your company, school or organization! Workshops are customized for groups of any size and designed to fit your specific needs. Sessions are scheduled for your convenience - daytime, evenings or weekends. We will design a program customized for your particular requirements. ONSITE TRAINING: $300 off workshops booked through December. SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES: Special pricing, call 203.227.5929 Call with FONcall™ 203.227.5929 Connecting... Connected! Error: could not place call bug? Call with FONcall™ 203.227.5929 Connecting... Connected! Error: could not place call bug? for details. "I found your class to be the missing link in the field of graphic design. I have had type classes before and the content is mostly about the structure of fonts, word usage style and then how to see type as a design element. Very important classes, but not all inclusive. Having been in the field for over 16 years, I was surprised how much I learned and some of the practical information about what to do with fonts. Thanks again!" For more info, click here or call 203.227.5929.

The Type Studio now on Twitter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yes, I gave in to Twitter pressure. It's no longer your teenager's social networking tool, but a valuable source of education and information for students, educators and professionals of all kinds. Follow me at Twitter for the best of typographic rants, raves, reviews, and releases.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ info@thetypestudio.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good Advice From Dr. Seuss

I couldn't get this to show up bigger but transcripts are below and here's the link. Enjoy!


Transcripts:

First Letter

Dr. Seuss
THE TOWER
La Jolla, California

May 12, 1957

Dear Howard:

I am very sorry to have been so long in answering your very friendly letter of April 13th. But I've been East. And the letter's been waiting me here in the West.

Your theatre productions sound wonderful. And I am very proud that you dedicated it to me.. and performed so many of my stories in it.

....

About giving you advice...pointers on how to properly write and illustrate a picture book...all I can say is this:

This is a field in which no one can give you pointers but yourself.

The big successes in this field all succeeded because they wrote and they wrote and they drew and they drew. They studied what they'd drawn and they studied what they'd written each time asking themselves one question: How can I do it better, next time?

To develop an individual style of writing and drawing, always go to yourself for criticsm. If you ask advice from too many other people, then you no longer are yourself.

The thing to do, and I am sure you will do it, is to keep up your enthusiasm! Every job is a lot of fun, no matter how much work it takes. If you'll plug away and do exactly what you are doing, making it better and better every month and every year...that you CAN be successful.

The very best of luck to you!

Your friend,

(Signed, 'Dr. Seuss')

Second Letter

January 3, 1985

Theodore Geisel/Dr. Seuss
The Tower
La Jolla, CA

Dear Mr. Geisel/Dr. Seuss,

If you peer at the two Xerox copies which are attached to this letter, you'll recognize them as your gracious responses to a thirteen/fifteen-year-old Alabama boy who wrote to you in 1957 and 1959. I told you about the puppet-show adaptations of Bartholomew and the Oobleck, and McElligot's Pool which I wrote and performed for neighborhood kids in my basement, and I confided that I hoped to grow up and write and illustrate children's books myself. As you can see, you gave me a valuable gift: you took me seriously.

It's been twenty-five years since the second of your two letters to me was written. During that time, I've often thought that I should write and thank you for the encouraging words which you offered me. On my fortieth birthday last May, I was given (at my request) The Butter Battle Book. I enjoyed seeing the world through your eyes again as much as I did when I was very young, and I appreciate your willingness to engage a truly serious and important subject within the children's book format.

I have not illustrated any children's books yet, but I have grown-up to be a cartoonist and humorous illustrator. My principal interest is in comic strips for adults, and I fill out my extra time doing spot drawings for magazines. My first book--a trade paperback collection of my comic strip Wendel--will be published at the end of 1985.

Although I couldn't claim to enjoy a hundredth of your own stature as an artist, I occasionally receive letters from youngsters not unlike the letters I wrote to you. And remembering the strength of the childhood dreams which are represented by such letters, I try very hard to do as you did and treat the young artist as a person with dignity. Thanks for showing me, in your work all through the years as well as in the particular letters you wrote to me, both how to be a wonderful artist and how to be a kind and supportive human being.

Yours sincerely,

Howard Cruse

Third Letter

Dear Howard......

It sure made me feel GOOD, reading your letter and seeing what you've been accomplishing during the past 25 years! It makes me especially happy to have played a small part in it.

May your first book, WENDEL, sell a billion copies. And may your next 25 years be even better than the 25 you've just conquered!

All the best

Dr. Seuss