Week 5 – The week of January 29th – February 3rd: Measurements & Letter Spacing / Leading Practice

In class

Review homework in small feedback groups.

BREAK

Measurements lecture.

In class assignment — Measurements and letterspacing practice
You will be given a printout of some printed text samples. Using a pica ruler, document and measure the following:

Typeface classification
Typographic style
Paragraph alignment
Point size/Leading, &
Line measure.

For example: Sans serif, bold italic, centered, 12/16 12p6

Then click here to download/open the document in Indesign. When you open your file we will check the measurements together and then you can practice letterspacing within the file.

Print out your finished letter spacing practice work and bring it to class next week.

HOMEWORK

Part 1: Take a snapshot/screen grab of your initial digital design rough (or sketch). Your first design layout will be used as part of your final presentation. Refine your design. Add color, ornamentation, imagery and/or illustration to your package design face. Bring color print outs of your project to class next week and bring in your digital files for a work-in-progress review.

Part 2: In a separate layer in your file, label what typeface classification your product name belongs to and label aspects of type anatomy listed below. Print out an extra copy of your product name with the layer of labels visible.

Typeface classification
Baseline
Median
X-height
Cap-height
Ascender height
Descender height
Mark the stress
At least 2 aspects of anatomy for each letter in your product name.

READINGS AND LINKS

Required reading:
Measurements Lecture (PDF file)

“How to” files review:
Setting up your typographic space in Indesign (PDF file)
Kerning/Leading Key Commands (PDF file)

Kerning and Tracking — Entire Chapter 5 (Lynda.com)
Using lining and proportional numerals — in Chapter 6 (Lynda.com)