Type Face

Typography is an expression of art, in and of itself. There are many aspects to consider within this discipline. Let’s touch on just a few basic points.

Some Vocabulary

Typeface: often used interchangeably with font.
Categories of font:
Serif fonts have hooks line or details added to the ends of the characters, for example, Times New Roman.
Sans serif fonts do not have this (san meaning without), for example, Arial.
Script fonts are just what the name implies. Novelty fonts are styled for effect.
Dingbat and ornament fonts are images used for embellishment.
Font family: variations on an individual font (regular, bold, italic, bold italic).
Weight: how heavy a typeface appears.
Leading: the amount of space between lines of type, measured in points.
Italic: slanted.
Left aligned: text is aligned to the left.
Right aligned: text is aligned to the right.
Justified: text is aligned to the left and right margins (usually not suitable for the web).
Centered: aligned center; best for headlines or short bursts of text.

Typefaces or fonts can convey feelings and emotions. The choice of font and the way it is presented affect legibility. A combination of upper and lower case is generally more legible than just one or the other. Serif fonts are generally considered more legible than sans serif, although sans serifs are more commonly used on the web. Certain novelty fonts can be hard to read, and letter spacing can also interfere with legibility.

Finally, when combining different fonts, make sure that they are significantly different enough to add contrast.