Typography

[pepperedmoth]

I love words, and I like finding the beauty in practical, everyday things. Somehow I'd never paid attention to the way words and text come together

Comments

[virgino_orsino]

I love when folks geek out on the little things. It's those little details that can sometimes make such world of difference.

And BTW, I haven't forgotten your letter of rec. request. I've just been a bit busy lately, so I haven't gotten to it yet. Soon. I will soon.

[ellana]

Actually that's really cool, and something to think about when I'm laying out my childrens' book (!).

[pepperedmoth]

Ooh, a children's book! I'd love to help if need be.

[dlc_usa]

I learned all that back in 8th grade when I took Graphic Arts (print shop) instead of Industrial Arts (wood shop). How well I remember loading lead type into a composition stick and physically kerning lines to increase their width to the point of being snug. Kerning like you depicted wasn't possible--you had to substitute a single ligature for the two characters, if such a ligature was provided. Linotype machines could create custom ligatures, but they weren't in the school budget. My graphic arts education has served me well since the personal computer was invented.

[pepperedmoth]

Have you read Dee Brown's When the Century Was Young? He writes beautifully (and hilariously) about being a young reporter wrestling with a bad-tempered linotype.

[lightwalker]

It sounds like about time for you to get your hands on some real moveable type - especially since you're so hands-on in general.

The Great River Arts Institute in Bellows Falls offers an amazing one-weekend typesetting intensive in the fall, which I highly, highly recommend. Watch Carol Hendrickson and I pulling proofs at http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gerundboi&search_type=

[pepperedmoth]

Nifty! Maybe if I have the budget next fall, I will. I was actually thinking of you while posting this entry. "Hmmm, Tessa would like that!"

[lightwalker]

Tessa love that. Tessa would go to grad school for that, if there were a program outside of Alabama.

You're still in school, yes? If you can spare a couple credits I think Dan Carr, one of the GRAI teachers, gives typography classes sometimes at Keene State and sometimes (if I'm not mistaken) at UVM. Maybe you could get it for next-to-free!

[pepperedmoth]

Cool! . . . I can't really spare the credits, and they charge just as much for auditing. But things may change! At least it's nice to know that it exists.