September 4, 2024

Type Anatomy

Typography is the art of arranging and designing text in a legible, clear, visually appealing way. Let’s go over the anatomy of typography and words we use to describe it.

The Type Terminology

A graphic designer needs to understand the anatomy of letterforms to appreciate and recognize the differences between typefaces. Typefaces are made up of different components such as ascender, aperture, bowl and counter. Type designers use these components to create typefaces that appear legible and have an overall appealing appearance.

A typeface consists of various parts, aperture, ascender, baseline, cap height, descender and x-height.

Every typeface has a unique appearance and specific characteristics that set it apart from others. The choice of typography is crucial in creating the right message for your users. The words themselves are important, but the font style and layout also play a vital role in conveying the message effectively onscreen.

Having a good understanding of the different typefaces and their features is essential in making informed decisions. This knowledge will help you make better choices when selecting and applying any typeface, ultimately leading to more visually appealing and meaningful content.

Aperture

The partially enclosed space of a letterform, such as the opening of the letter C or the gap between the two stems of the letter A.

Ascender

An upward vertical stroke that extends beyond the x-height, which is the height of the lowercase letter x. For example, the letters b, d, f, h, k, and l have ascenders.

Loop

The enclosed or partially enclosed downward extension on lowercase letters such as 'g' and 'y', distinct from the bowl or main circular part.

Bowl

The generally round or elliptical forms which are the basic body shape of letters, such as the letter O or the letter P.

Overhang

An overhang on elements of letters f, F, T, or V extending slightly beyond the main stroke's width, improving letter spacing and visual harmony in typography.

Crossbar

The horizontal stroke in letters, such as the middle bar of the letter E or the top bar of the letter T.

Descender

The horizontal stroke in letters, such as the middle bar of the letter E or the top bar of the letter T.

Stroke

The diagonal stroke that connects the two verticals in the letter 'N', defining its structure and distinguishing its form.

Leg

A leg is the downward stroke on letters such as 'K' or 'R' that extends at an angle from the main body.

Spine

The main curved stroke of a lowercase or capital S.

Shoulder

A curved stroke originating from a stem, such as the top part of the letter R or the bottom part of the letter N.

Bracket

A bracket is a curved or angled connection between the stem and serif of a letter, smoothing the transition and adding stylistic nuance to the typeface's appearance.

Stem

A main stroke that is more or less straight, not part of a bowl, such as the vertical bar of the letter I or the diagonal bar of the letter V.

Stress (or Axis)

A stress or axis is the orientation of thin and thick strokes in letters, indicating the direction of contrast, which can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.

Double-Story

A double-story refers to a letterform that has two distinct parts or stories, such as the 'a' and 'g', contrasting with single-story versions of these letters.