{"id":623,"date":"2012-04-27T05:44:11","date_gmt":"2012-04-27T05:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oert.org\/?p=623"},"modified":"2023-01-28T00:21:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T00:21:06","slug":"type-size-units-and-measuring-instruments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oert.org\/en\/type-size-units-and-measuring-instruments\/","title":{"rendered":"Type size, units and measuring instruments"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Created by: Marcela Romero.<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>  Art\u00edculo en proceso de traducci\u00f3n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

It is essential to correctly understand what a letter is and how it should be measured. Basic knowledge of typography and of most of graphic design is based on the concept of type size.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Type size<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is the vertical measure of the type\u2019s front face, taking the complete lead block, not only the printing area of a specific letter. Therefore, this value is the same for capitals, lower case letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and other components of the case, whether they have ascenders and descenders or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The type size, a standardized measure measurable in the lead block, includes variable heights according to typeface families, ascenders, \u201cx\u201d height, descenders and a small space (called shoulder) for the descenders in the line above not to touch ascenders in the line below. We say that these areas are variable because they depend on the design of the typeface family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Partes<\/a>
Partes de un tipo m\u00f3vil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Leading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gets its name from small metallic rulers that were used to widen the space between the lines in a text composed in movable types. Leading is the distance between a line of text and the following one, measured, for example, from baseline to baseline. When this measure coincides with font size, the difference between them is zero. This value is called solid leading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the distance between lines is smaller than the type size that composes the text, we will get a negative leading. This process, which today we can easily access thanks to digital technology, was impossible to carry out with lead types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The size corresponding to leading is indicated after the type size, separated by a dash. When composing different typeface families in a same type size we will see that the support on the baseline coincides, but the heights of capitals, ascenders, \u201cx\u201d and descenders may not. Each typeface family was designed with its own criteria, starting even from different units of measurement to give proportions to the signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To equal type size correspond equal front face heights, but without the movable type the size has become intangible and it has been impossible to reach a consensus as to what should be measured in the printed sign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Cuerpo<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Relations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order to establish some relations we have to agree on nomenclature:
A typeface family is built between by 5 main lines:
Baseline or standard<\/strong> (s): it is the one on which the signs rest. It is maintained when composing letters from different typeface families or in different type sizes. Above the baseline is the lower case “x\u201d<\/strong> or \u201cx\u201d height <\/strong>(without ascenders); The capitals height <\/strong>(m) and the ascender height<\/strong> (a). In many typeface families the latter two coincide, in others the ascenders are higher. Below the baseline is the descenders\u2019 line<\/strong> (d). But we can also talk about the following dimensions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tambi\u00e9n podemos hablar de las siguientes dimensiones: \u201cH\u201d, o tama\u00f1o de las may\u00fasculas; \u201ck\u201d, o tama\u00f1o de las ascendentes; \u201cp\u201d, o tama\u00f1o de las descendentes; \u201cx\u201d, o tama\u00f1o de la equis; y \u201ckp\u201d u \u201cojo\u201d, que es la distancia entre las dos l\u00edneas extremas (k y p). En pocas ocasiones kp coincide con el cuerpo, lo que equivale a decir que en el tipo met\u00e1lico no hay hombro superior ni inferior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Estableceremos relaciones entre estas dimensiones y, adem\u00e1s, entre estas y el cuerpo. Las proporciones que podemos establecer entre cuerpo\/H, cuerpo\/kp, cuerpo x, h\/k o kp\/x nos permiten encontrar puntos de referencia cuando analizamos o comparamos familias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n