CDA CDA Typography & Layout 2

Question 1

What is 'tracking' in typography?

Accepted Answer

Uniformly adjusting letter spacing across a range of text

Answer

Tracking (letter-spacing) uniformly increases or decreases space across a selected block of text, unlike kerning which targets individual pairs.

Question 2

Which layout principle states that elements should be aligned to a common edge or axis to create visual order?

Accepted Answer

Alignment

Answer

Alignment connects visual elements by positioning them relative to a shared edge or invisible axis, reducing visual clutter.

Question 3

A 'widowed' line in typography refers to what?

Accepted Answer

A single short word or line left at the top of a new column or page

Answer

A widow is a single short line stranded at the top of a column or page, considered poor typographic practice.

Question 4

What is the purpose of a 'baseline grid' in layout design?

Accepted Answer

To align text across multiple columns to a consistent vertical rhythm

Answer

A baseline grid creates consistent vertical rhythm by aligning all text elements to evenly spaced horizontal lines.

Question 5

Which font format supports variable axes such as weight, width, and slant within a single file?

Accepted Answer

OpenType variable fonts (.otf/.ttf with fvar)

Answer

OpenType variable fonts embed multiple stylistic variations in one file using axes defined in the fvar table.

CDA - Certified Digital Artist Practice Test