Bachelor of Graphic Design Typography & Type Design 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What term describes the small decorative strokes at the ends of letterform strokes in serif typefaces?
- Serifs (Correct answer)
- Ascenders
- Ligatures
- Counters
Correct answer: Serifs
Serifs are the small decorative strokes or feet attached to the ends of the main strokes in serif typeface letterforms.
Question 2: Which typographic term refers to the space between lines of text?
- Kerning
- Tracking
- Leading (Correct answer)
- Baseline
Correct answer: Leading
Leading is the vertical space between lines of type, historically referring to the lead strips placed between lines of metal type.
Question 3: What is 'kerning' in typography?
- Adjusting spacing between specific letter pairs (Correct answer)
- Setting text in all capitals
- Changing overall letter spacing uniformly
- Aligning text to a baseline grid
Correct answer: Adjusting spacing between specific letter pairs
Kerning is the manual adjustment of space between specific pairs of letters to improve visual balance and readability.
Question 4: Which classification includes typefaces like Helvetica and Futura?
- Old Style
- Transitional
- Sans-Serif (Correct answer)
- Slab Serif
Correct answer: Sans-Serif
Helvetica and Futura are classic sans-serif typefaces, characterized by the absence of decorative serifs on letterform strokes.
Question 5: What is the 'x-height' of a typeface?
- The height of capital letters
- The height of lowercase letters excluding ascenders and descenders (Correct answer)
- The total point size of the font
- The width of the letter X
Correct answer: The height of lowercase letters excluding ascenders and descenders
X-height is the height of lowercase letters, typically measured by the height of the lowercase 'x,' excluding ascenders and descenders.
Question 6: In typography, what are 'ligatures'?
- Decorative borders around text
- Two or more letters joined into a single character (Correct answer)
- Alternate letterform styles
- Numerals used within body text
Correct answer: Two or more letters joined into a single character
Ligatures are special characters formed by combining two or more letters into a single glyph, such as 'fi' or 'fl,' to avoid awkward spacing.
Bachelor of Graphic Design Typography & Type Design 1
What term describes the small decorative strokes at the ends of letterform strokes in serif typefaces?