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Decisions
Home
page
TYPE
DESIGN
Design
notes
Basics
Decisions
Tests
Golden
section
Limitations
Imitation
Font
metrics
More
metrics
Pilfering
Modules
Bold
Italic
Scans
Spacing
Elbow
grease
Glossary
How to
get from sketch to character set
The hardest part is making up your mind. Drawing a shape you
are certain about takes little effort. Know what you want,
and you’re halfway home. If you don’t, I recommend
two methods of finding out.
One.
Test and compare
Gradual variations is the best way I know for making design
choices. And the computer does much of the work for you.
Inspiration
also has its place, but it usually needs a good shove.
Details bump into each other. Confusion looms. That’s
when a method will save you.
___
Two.
Look hard at masterpieces
Matthew Carter made Bell Centennial to withstand high-speed
printing, rough paper and cheap ink. Compensation for rough
handling is built right into the design. You want to learn
about ink traps? Study the shape of the inside corners.
Great
designers don’t lock away their secrets in a vault
somewhere. They, too, run into technical problems. They find
solutions, and put them into their work.
“How
can I look for solutions?” a correspondent asks.
“I don’t even know what the problems are.”
Don’t worry. As a whole, type design may seem daunting.
One detail at a time is much easier. Together, we’ll
take a look at a few.
