Many Graphic Designers will use a wide range of fonts without fully appreciating the different aspects that make them up. Understanding the anatomy of a font can make it easier to distinguish between different, but similar looking fonts, and Graphic Designers may also find that they make more discerning font choices.
X-Height and Cap Height
These two measures may not seem so obvious as some other elements of a font, but the relationship between the x-height and cap height does strongly affect the appearance of a typeface.
The x-height is the height of a lowercase 'x' and this height applies to the height of all lower case letters, minus their ascenders and descenders. The cap height is the height of capital or upper case letters and is most easily seen on letters with a flat top and base, such as a capital 'H'.
Generally speaking, typefaces with a larger x-height tend to be easier to read at smaller font sizes.
The Parts of a Font
The following is a list of different parts of a typeface and is not exhaustive, particularly as some aspects may also be known by a number of other names. The accompanying image highlights the different parts visually.
- Aperture – this is the internal part of a letter, such as a letter 'n' or 'h', and this differs from a counter as the area is not fully enclosed.
- Arm – this is a horizontal or angled stroke at the top of a font that is not attached at both ends, such as the stroke on the top of a capital 'T' or the diagonal up stroke on a 'K'.
- Ascender – this is the part of lower case letters that extends above the x-height.
- Bar/Crossbar – generally this is a horizontal stroke that is connected at both ends, such as that seen in the letters 'A' and 'H'.
- Bowl – this is a curved stroke that encloses a section of a character.
- Counter – this is an enclosed section of a letter, such as in a lower case 'e'.
- Cross Stroke – this is a horizontal stroke that crosses the stem of a lower case 't' or 'f' with both ends unattached.
- Descender – this is the part of lower case letters that descends below the x-height.
- Ear – generally found on the lower case 'g' and is the small, serif like, projection from the top of the letter.
- Leg – this is a horizontal or angled stroke at the bottom of a font that is not attached at both ends, such as the diagonal down stroke on a 'k' or capital 'R'.
- Serif – this is a projection from the main stroke of a letter and may be bracketed (curved serifs) or unbracketed (straight or block shaped).
- Spur – this is a small projection found at the end of some curved characters, such as a letter 'S', or may be found on a capital 'G' projecting to the right from the base of the stem.
- Stem – this is a vertical stroke, though may also apply to the diagonal strokes of letters such as 'A' and 'y'.
- Tail – this applies generally to the descenders of letters, such as 'Q' and 'y', and may also be the slight extension ending the leg of a capital 'R'.
Understanding the different parts of a typeface can help Graphic Designers to make good font choices and may also be a useful tool when managing a wide range of fonts.
Ian Pullen - Ian Pullen is a Graphic Designer with some 15 years of experience in the industry. His first foot on the ladder, after completing 2 years ...
