Typography with focus on web design (part 1): consideration of source, type, type and typography
July 7, 2008 3 comments
In this first article in the series on typology of the web and its use on sites, presenting some "issues typographical" and I make a distinction between common terms and often confused, as "typology", "printer", "type", "source" and " text font. "
About the series "Typography with focus on web design"
To achieve a web design quality, useful and aesthetically pleasing, useful for the purpose proposed and was done, several studies are needed and in deepening expertise. Certainly the study and knowledge of the printer must appear in the know-how of the web developer.
This series on typography focused on web design, even briefly, provides the basis for any person who is able to continue with studies in the area of printing, for web design and design in general. Besides all, as said, have knowledge about the area and awareness of its typeface correct application designs for the web is certainly one of the ways to achieve success in doing good sites.
Considerations on the practice typographical web
The web sites, hot sites, mini sites, portals, web systems and software, online campaigns and material found on the web in general, are currently in a phase of "maturity". People still studying the best techniques and possibilities for development on the web and because of this area of knowledge is still relatively new, still has not official positions about - actually, or in areas of traditional knowledge and studies - the which resulted in a mass production of a material that could have more quality than you see.
The relative ease of contact with the web development and, to some extent, lack of barriers to enter the industry - outside the fact of the spread of courses such as "Web Design in 6 months", which appear more and more - and all these listed as incentive to people.
To some extent, this is positive, as it allows all interested to learn new things, and quickly initiate the development of their own web sites in a professional manner, and paid for their work.
For another perspective, "anyone" to develop web sites has its negative points because, for one reason or another - and especially by the certificates they receive the type of course that was said - and even beginners in the art of developing the web do not know the details of this profession and about the fact that study and learn every day to acquire new knowledge and upgrading those that already has, is essential!
And this includes, too, the many misconceptions, lack of knowledge and speculation about the correct use typeface in the development of web sites and the like. Since the ledo make the mistake that "more or less" is enough, the developers do not provide proper consideration to the printer on the web. Stressing: knowledge and studies in this part of the development to web is very important that those interested seriously by the area produce web designs - designs and, in general - better, satisfying and agradem visitors to the sites they develop.
Theory before practice: explanation of terms related to printing on the web
Before the practice, is always the theory. It has always been so. Students of medicine spend years reading books, watching movies and way of telling whether several before someone operate and no engineering student built a building right in the first period. The same applies to web development: no one learns to develop good sites - sites professionals - in 6 months…
So is needed before the theory practice. It is necessary that the proper definition of the terms of the area are properly clarified and learned. With this, inoportunos and misunderstandings are avoided unnecessary confusion and a material with better quality can be produced.
Difference between Type and Typography
It is common there confusion between the words "typology" and "printing". It is not "evil" of who does the confusion; their spelling and pronunciation are somewhat similar and may actually cause confusion. In a brief - but very good - article on type and typography, Sergio D Stefano, columnist for Webinsider, explains the difference between the words:
Much silly that I have heard over the years is the insistence on the use of the term typology for the classification of types. Type actually is a term belonging to the taxonomy, the science of classification, the study of the characteristics of the differences between objects and living creatures of every kind.
We have a printer that, then yes, is the art and process of creating characters. The printer has etymological origin in the deployment of printing by movable type in Europe from the fifteenth century. So is the right way.
Most of the time may seem silly "Subject cismado" speak with one wrong word here, another there, because what matters, even, it enteder on the subject, in its various nuances. However, by using a term errôneamente are, first, errando - and do so, for example, in the presence of a client, can be very desgradável - and then send a wrong note, spreading a misconception that if we had studied a little more about it, we would have avoided.
So, instead of to end with this misunderstanding on type and typography, and from now use the correct term, when we say that we are involved in any activity on the creation / study types, we use the term printing. Combined? ;-)
A little more information on Typography
Again using the proper content of Wikiédia, to expand further the theme transcrevo a brief explanation on Typography:
The printer (the Greek typos - "way" - and graphein - "writing") is the process of creating art and the composition of a text, physical or digitally. As in graphic design in general, the main objective of the printer is to the structure and form to the statement printed. Typography is also a term used for imaging that uses a press types of furniture.
In most cases, a composition should be especially readable typeface and visually engaging, without disregarding the context in which it is read and goals of its publication. In experimental work of graphic design (or leading) the objectives formal extrapolam the functionality of the text, so issues such as readability, these cases may end up being related.
In the use of printing the visual interest is achieved by the choice of sources typographical, composition (or layout) of text, the sensitivity to the tone of the text and the relationship between text and graphics on the page. All these factors are combined so that the final layout has an "atmosphere" or "resonance" appropriate to the content addressed. In the case of printed media, graphic designers (ie printers) tend to worry about choosing the appropriate role of ink and methods of printing.
Although these concepts and definitions have focused particularly on printed media, it is perfectly possible and acceptable "adapt" everything and think about the printer with a focus on web design. It is important, so much attention to this matter because, of course, this is one of the most useful and good for the case - and practice - in development for Web.
"Type", "Source" and "Source Tipográfica"
Other mistakes that are made about the terminology typeface is on the terms type, source and source tipogr á is - actually, the more mistakes relate to the first two. Again, to be clear and precise as a professional web, we can not commit unnecessary misunderstandings and easily avoided.
Source Type and, indeed, mean the same thing. However, due to misuse of the term, mainly by poorly-made translations of foreign software for the Portuguese language - text editors, for example, use the word "source", when the right should be "type" - the current use and dissemination of this term to describe types was inevitable. So, in explanation in this regard, is that the translation into Portuguese in Portugal, these programmes, was "type Letter" - that is true - instead of "type Source" - that is wrong.
And, as to "text font," is used to differentiate and identify who is talking about "sources of types" instead of the other meanings of "source" as "source of information" or "source of water."
Conclusion
It is important then that is using the correct terms when we are dealing with the study of the printer and typographical affairs, in general, not making confusion between terms that would appear to mean the same thing. "Source" became synonymous with "type" mainly in terms of translations famous wrong, but the right is "kind of letter" instead of "type of source."














Trackback on July 7, 2008
Trackback on July 7, 2008
Pingback on August 4, 2008