Week 2 – The week of January 8th – 12th: Modifying Type
In class
Modifying/adapting type & creating letterforms for your business card.
Inclass assignment — Modifying type.
We will be modifying letters using sketches. We will also practice a couple of techniques for drafting custom letters.
BREAK
Review the in class assignment from last week. Review homework from last week.
HOMEWORK
Create a custom initial mark for your name. You might chose to adapt/modify a chosen typeface or create your own custom letters. Your final inital mark will be scaled to fit on the back of your business card.
Then choose one typeface family that have many weights and styles. Design the front of your business card and business card variations that play with grouping text, scale, weight/emphasis.
Text for the front of your business card: your name, address, the main way you would like to be contacted (either phone or email) and your top three interests/skills (e.g. drawing, photography, typography)
When you are satisfied with your business card designs, print them out and bring them to class next week. You may use color and imagery, but only after you have solved the typographic layout, grouping/alignments, emphasis (bold & italic), and size.
Bring in print outs of the front and back of your business card for next week.
READINGS AND LINKS
Identifying typefaces:
Wordmark.it (Site)
What the font (Site)
Font Matherator (Site)
Font Squirrel (Site)
Indentifont
(Site)
Scanning apps — converting images/sketches to vector:
Adobe Capture App
Scanner Pro App
Required reading:
Modifying Type Lecture (PDF file)
Helpful Hints for Drawing and Modifying Letters (PDF file)
Recommended reading: review these links below to help you refine your letters:
1. Practice modifying (shaping) type on your own (site)
2. Also to help master the pen tool you can play The Bézier Game: http://bezier.method.ac/
3. When you create your initial mark, consider refining it using grids and geometry: http://www.creativebloq.com/logo-design/6-tips-using-grids-logo-design-11513984
4. Plotting Vector Points with Jessica Hische Video
5. Letter-Building Method One — Scaling and Shaping
6. Bezier Curves in Illustrator
7. Lettering Tutorial site
8. Lettering: Logo, Font & Lettering Bible (Look in Jill's Lessons Folder for complete PDF file)
Creating text effects for custom letters:
1. Creating stroke widths in illustrator
2. Text effects: Drop shadows and line patterns within drop shadows
3. How to warp text in Illustrator
4. 3D Text
5. Decorative text shadowing in Illustrator
6. Creating swirls with variable widths
7. Multiple strokes on text
8. How to create custom lettering in Illustrator
9. Images showing anchor points of custom letters
<< And if you are loving lettering, check out more links in the resources section under letterers, type designers and founderies.
Recommended links & books for the summer:
Some free fonts to look at
Introduction to typeface design/typeface designers:
Introduction to designing typefaces (Site)
Letter fountain (Site)
Designing Type (Book)
Type. A Visual History of Typefaces & Graphic Styles, 1901-1938 (v. 1) (Book)
Type. A Visual History of Typefaces & Graphic Styles, 1901-1938 (v. 2) (Book)
List of type designers (site)
Type Designers - Historical (Site)
Magazine lettering projects (video)
Week 1 - The week of January 1st
Week 2 - The week of January 7th
Week 3 - The week of January 14th*
Week 4 - The week of January 21st
Week 5 - The week of January 28th
Week 6 - The week of February 4th
Week 7 - The week of February 11th
Week 8 - The week of February 18th*
Week 9 - The week of February 25th
LECTURES
Type History & Type Classifications (pdf)
General Overview: Choosing Typefaces (pdf)
A Closer Inspection: Choosing Typefaces (pdf)
Subtle Details: Font Combinations (pdf)
Practical Advice for Chosing Typefaces (pdf)
RESOURCES
Letter Anatomy Cheat Sheet (pdf)
Letters Anatomy Definitions (pdf)
Creative Brief/Design Brief (pdfs)
Creative Brief AIGA sample (pdf)
Brainstorming Techniques (pdf)
Style/Concept Board Template (.indt file)
Elements of an identity dissected...
How to choose typography for a brand...
Kerning/Leading Key Commands (pdf)
Setting up typographic space–Indesign (pdf)
19 Top Fonts in 19 Top Combinations (pdf)
SITES OF INTEREST
16th Century Letterpress Printing
Typography that works: Ellen Lupton
Mood Boards: Dressing for different...
Wordmark (view your loaded fonts)
Typeface Design Resources & Tutorials
8 famous fonts and the designer who made them
LETTERERS
Jessica Hische and Erik Marinovich —
Title Case Video
TYPE DESIGNERS:
FOUNDERIES:
InDesign Typography (Lynda.com course)
Metrix Create Space Laser Cutter Specs