Prepress Preparation, Continued
Type style -
weight
(Continued)
CONDENSED: Letters that appear vertically squeezed or pinched are
condensed. Condensed letters can give the appearance of being heavier than
they really are. Use condensed letters when the length of text exceeds the
line space allotted.
EXPANDED: Horizontally stretched or flattened letters are called expanded.
They appear lighter in weight than they really are. Used creatively,
expanded letters can lengthen a short headline to fill a predetermined space.
GEOMETRICALLY SYMMETRIC: Geometrically symmetric letters have
geometrically or mathematically correct dimensions and proportions. To
determine if a letter is geometrically proportioned, look at the letter "O" and
evaluate any distortions.
ITALICIZED: Italicized letters slant to the left or right of center. Before
negatively affecting legibility, a letter can lean a maximum of 68 degrees
from center. Italicized letters add emphasis.
Figure 1-15 shows the letter "O" in various typefaces.
Figure 1-15.—Using the
letter "O" to demonstrate
geometric proportions of
various typefaces.
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