Typography Glossary

Calligraphic Display An image-display device that produces images by directly creating lines, arcs, and so on, as opposed to a bitmap display. Also called a stroke display.

Cap Height The distance from baseline to cap line of an alphabet, which is the approximate height of the uppercase letters. It is often less, but sometimes greater, than the height of the ascending lowercase letters.

Cedilla Ç The accent, used primarily in French, to soften the letter C.

Cell Text A monospaced typeface, usually associated with older display devices.

Centered Text set so as to distribute residual space on the line equally to the right and left.

Character An abstract symbol, represend within a computer by a numerical code. Also, a symbol in a font or glyph.

Character Set An ordered set of abstract symbols, used ti represent and exchange information, in which a paricular symbol is represented by its index.

Chase Rectangular frame used to lock lines of metal type into position in letterpress use.

Chromatic Aberration An aberration in an optical system that causes light of different colours to be focused in different planes.

Cicero A unit of measurement used to measure typefaces. It is equal to 12 Didot points, the slightly larger continental European counterpart to the American and British point.

Classical Type Style Letterforms having vertical axis, adnate serifs, teardrop terminals and moderate aperture. Originated in the 18th century.

Colophon A description of how a book was produced, normally at the end. Also, a printers' mark or emblem.

Colour: Typography The overall blackness of a page of text, that is, its average density. By extersion, the blackness of a typeface when set in a block.

Compound Document A document that contains, in addition to text, graphics, images, or other non-textual components.

Condensed A type design variation with less than normal set; thus a tightly spaced font.

Conic Spline A spline curve of order two.

Contrast The ratio of thickness of vertical to horizontal strokes in letterforms.

Counter The white space enclosed by a letterform, whether wholly enclosed (as in "d" or "o") or partially (as in "c" or "m").

Cubic Splines A spline curve of order three.

Cursive Typefaces that resemble handwriting, frequently having joins or the suggestion of joins between letters.

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A BRIEF HISTORY OF TYPE
TYPE CLASSIFICATION
THE FONT POOL
PAGE LAYOUT GUIDE
LOGO TYPE GUIDE
MIXING TYPE
TYPOGRAPHY SOFTWARE
TYPE CHOICE

Sources:

Rubinststein, Richard. [1988] Digial Typography: An Introduction to Type and Composition for Computer System Design. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.
Blue Dot's typoGRAPHIC.
The comp.fonts FAQ.

There have been .
© Kevin Woodward 1997.

	Calligraphic Display	An image-display device that produces images by directly creating lines, arcs, and so on, as opposed to a bitmap display. Also called a stroke display.
	Cap Height	The distance from baseline to cap line of an alphabet, which is the approximate height of the uppercase letters. It is often less, but sometimes greater, than the height of the ascending lowercase letters.
	Cedilla Ç	The accent, used primarily in French, to soften the letter C.
	Cell Text	A monospaced typeface, usually associated with older display devices.
	Centered	Text set so as to distribute residual space on the line equally to the right and left.
	Character	An abstract symbol, represend within a computer by a numerical code. Also, a symbol in a font or glyph.
	Character Set	An ordered set of abstract symbols, used ti represent and exchange information, in which a paricular symbol is represented by its index.
	Chase	Rectangular frame used to lock lines of metal type into position in letterpress use.
	Chromatic Aberration	An aberration in an optical system that causes light of different colours to be focused in different planes.
	Cicero	A unit of measurement used to measure typefaces. It is equal to 12 Didot points, the slightly larger continental European counterpart to the American and British point.
	Classical Type Style	Letterforms having vertical axis, adnate serifs, teardrop terminals and moderate aperture. Originated in the 18th century.
	Colophon	A description of how a book was produced, normally at the end. Also, a printers' mark or emblem.
	Colour: Typography	The overall blackness of a page of text, that is, its average density. By extersion, the blackness of a typeface when set in a block.
	Compound Document	A document that contains, in addition to text, graphics, images, or other non-textual components.
	Condensed	A type design variation with less than normal set; thus a tightly spaced font.
	Conic Spline	A spline curve of order two.
	Contrast	The ratio of thickness of vertical to horizontal strokes in letterforms.
	Counter	The white space enclosed by a letterform, whether wholly enclosed (as in "d" or "o") or partially (as in "c" or "m").
	Cubic Splines	A spline curve of order three.
	Cursive	Typefaces that resemble handwriting, frequently having joins or the suggestion of joins between letters.