TYPOGRAPHY - PROJECT 2

24.10.18 - 31.10.18 (Week 9 - Week 10)

Helen Angelia (0336203)

Typography

Project 2 - Font Design

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LECTURES

Lecture 9 : -

We learned how to study the existing fonts with circular, vertical and horizontal shapes and then we were told to sketch our font design and digitalised it in Adobe Illustrator. We were supposed to use minimum of 3 initials in our name.

Lecture 10: -

We were taught how to use Font Lab Studio 5 for the digitalised font design.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Module Information Booklet (MIB)

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PROJECT 2 (Week 9 - Week 10)

24.10.18 (Week 9)

First of all, we need to have knowledge of fonts before we design our own. The lecturers told us to study an alphabet from the 10 types of fonts families in Google Drive. We can choose either upper case of lower case in 2 conditions: Uppercase - 700 pt and Lowercase - 500 pt. After we choose one letter, we did some constructing circular and straight lines.

For my study, I like the font Adobe Caslon Pro Regular and so I chose that. I prefer lowercase letter with 500 pt and I picked the letter "h".

Fig 1.1 

Study of the Chosen Font

After this, we had to make our own font design based on the fonts that we've chosen. Mine was Adobe Caslon Pro Regular, so I tried to improve the font in my own style. Before we digitalised our font design in Adobe Illustrator, we need to make sketches of our initial names. 

Fig 1.2

Sketch of Font Design

Elisabeth Helen Angelia

We were allowed to input the sketch of our names in Adobe Illustrator to make it easier for us in digitalising it. When designing the typeface more further, we were told to make the paper size or the canvas size in: Height - 1000 pt and Width - 3000 pt. I also have to remembered the X-height of the lowercase is 500 pt.

Fig 1.3

Process of Digitalising Font Design

Fig 1.4

First Attempt of Digitalising Font Design

Fig 1.5

Second Attempt of Digitalising Font Design

Fig 1.6

Third Attempt of Digitalising Font Design

Fig 1.7

Final Outcome of Digitalising Font Design

Fig 1.8

Final Outcome : Thumbnail

31.10.18 (Week 10)

Final step was to input the digitalised font design into Font Lab Studio 5. The Font Lab Studio that I used was the demo version, so I couldn't have clear result.

Fig 1.9

'E' Alphabet in Font Lab Studio 5

Fig 2.0

'H' Alphabet in Font Lab Studio 5

Fig 2.1

'A' Alphabet in Font Lab Studio 5

Fig 2.2

'EHA' Preview

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FEEDBACK

Week 9

Specific feedback: I should make the sketch of letters more contrast. Mr. Vinod said the 'a' is interesting, but I need to make some part thicker. For the 'h', I have to make some part thicker as well. And the 'e' was horrible.

Week 10

Specific Feedback: I need to make the jaw of the 'e' not too far out and bring it closer to the body.

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REFLECTION

EXPERIENCES

24.10.18 (Week 9)

I was excited to make the font design, because Mr. Vinod and Mr. Shamsul accepted my design right after the sketch and the digitalised version was made. But I still need to smooth things here and there and I'm not really good with it. So, I really need to pushed a lot of effort in Adobe Illustrator.

31.10.18 (Week 10)

Some of my font design still need some fixation. I had quite a trouble with the 'e', because I had a hard time to figure out how to do it in Adobe Illustrator.

OBSERVATIONS

24.10.18 (Week 9)

I observed a lot of my friends works has a lot of different styles, but I still like mine which looks simple and pretty easy to make it.

31.10.18 (Week 10)

I was really careful in adjusting the size to be put in Font Lab Studio 5, because if the size not accurate, it destroys the whole work.

FINDINGS

24.10.18 (Week 9)

I found out that making font design has given me a lot to study, but I felt excited to do it at the same time. I found out that I need to be consistent in all letters so that they will be in one unity.

31.10.18 (Week 10)

I found out that font design needs accuracy when doing it, like I should make some part thicker, some part smoother or some part not too come out too much. It gives me studies I'll never forget.

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FURTHER READINGS

Type Matters! by Jim Williams

Week 9

Fig 2.3

Type Matters Front Cover

Type matters is a book that taught us to use typography effectively. Not just by working on computers and making things like letters, reports, or other documents to be readable as possible. This book is a perfect for those keen to improve the look of their type, whether it be on screen or in print. Type Matters shows what makes good typography and what doesn't, presenting clear guidance on how to create documents that are both readable and elegant.

Fig 2.4

Visual Reference for Uppercase, Lowercase, X-height, etc.

I choose Type Matters for my further readings this week because it has all the knowledge I need to know in order to make my font design. I started off by knowing about the rules making Uppercase and Lowercase, with X-height and other things.

Fig 2.5

Visual Reference for Legible and Readable Typefaces

Also, I need to know that designing a typeface is to make them legible and readable. Typefaces that aren't readable proofs that I'm a failure as a designer. That's why I made my font design to be as simple and readable as possible.

The Fundamentals of Typography by Gavin Ambrose & Paul Harris

Week 10

Fig 2.6

The Fundamentals of Typography Front Cover

The Fundamentals of Typography teaches us about incisive insight of typography theory and practice. There are comprehensive introduction to the history of typography, typographic detailing and the use of creative typography in print and online.

Fig 2.7

Visual Reference for Kerning and letter Spacing

From this book, I learned about kerning and letter spacing in font design, because I was going to use Font Lab Studio 5. I just noticed that in making typefaces, we also need to consider the kern and letter space, not just in paragraphs.