Typography Flashcards
Type
Type, or text, refers to the words that appear on maps. Commonly organised according to characteristics:
Type family
type style
type size
Typography
the art or process of specifying, arranging,
and designing type.
Type family
to a group of type designs that reflect common design characteristics and share a common base name. Sans serif and Serif.
Type Style
Bold, Italics and Roman (normal)
Typeface
Type of a particular family and style
Type Size
Height measured in points
Font
set of all alphanumeric and special characters of a particular type family, type style, and type size.
Uppercase and Lowercase -easier to read, less blocky, more detail
Title case
Composed of lowercase letters with the first letter of each word set in uppercase. Conjunctions in lowercase. titles, subtitles, legend headings,
legend definitions, labels for point and line features.
Sentence case
First letter in each sentence is capital.formal sentences are used, such
as in textual explanations or descriptions appearing on a map.
Serifs
short extensions at the ends of major letter
strokes. serifed families.
letter spacing
the space between each
letter in a word
word spacing
the space between words
Labelling areal features
Exaggerated letter and word spacing is often used
in conjunction with all-uppercase type
Kerning
the variation of space between two
adjacent letters.
meausred with em = the point size of the type being used.
Monospace fonts
have fixed symbol spacing, used in early computers, allows for clear distinctions between letters and symbols.
Proportional fonts
variable or proportional spacing, modern word processors and GUI’s
Leading
line spacing, vertical spacing between the lines of type according to their baselines, can be altered further or closer to each other, should be big enough to be read easily
what are decorative font types?
bold, italics need tobe used sparingly
What should italics be used for?
labelling water features and identifying publications ins the data source.
How many font types families should be used on a map?
Only up to 2 - use 2 distinct families
more than 2 can become to distracting.
Map elements should all have the same font type.
Type size : lower limits
all type needs to be readable, factors such as map user and map reporduction method, lighting conditions should be taken into consideration when choosing a type.
Readability
is influenced by typeface, crispness of reproduction and other elements.
Type size
Type size should correspond with size/importance of map features and heirarchy of map elements.
evaluating types
critically evalutae and do not simply accept the format due to the website/programme
what can be done better/
what was done wrong.
Always spellcheck your map.
Guidelines for labelling all features
orient tpye horizontally except when labelling a map with graticules and diagonal or curved features, the type should follow the curve/line.
How can overprinting be minimized?
mask, halo or callout the type. but make sure they are placed close to their association.
Labeling point features
select positions that avoid over printing. follow preferred locations, most preferred is to the left or right of point. dont let anything come between the label and the point.
do not exaggerate the spacing.
How to label points close to the coast lines?
Labelled entirely on land
how to label point on the coastline?
label either on land or on the water no half half
How to label linear features?
type is placed above them not touching, text should read from left ot right and should not be upside down.
how to label an boundary?
type appears above and below the lines incidating the boundary.
How to label complex curved/long line features?
follow the general trend of the feature.
long features can be labelled multiple times.
How to label areal features?
visually centering
the label within the feature, follow the general trend of the area, use uppercase type and exaggerated spacing = it emphasises the areal extent.
How to label too small areal features?
should be labelled as a point feature.
What is automated type placement?
automatically position type, Focuses primarily on the placement of type
associated with map features, Not to position map elements that are composed of type like the title. it avoids over printing and creating conflict among type labels .
2 general approach to automated type placement
- Placement of each label in its preferred position, followed by an iterative reorganization of labels to
avoid or minimize conflict among labels - Casual, suboptimal placement of labels, followed by an iterative reorganization of labels
until the combined placement of all labels approaches an optimal state.
Advantage and disadvantage of ATP
saves time but is computing intensive.
