WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:01.160 --> 00:00:02.900 Typography. 00:00:02.900 --> 00:00:05.200 It's everywhere we look. 00:00:05.200 --> 00:00:13.179 In the books we read, on the websites we visit—even in everyday life, on street signs, bumper 00:00:13.179 --> 00:00:16.820 stickers, and product packaging. 00:00:16.820 --> 00:00:21.449 Simply put, typography is the style or appearance of text. 00:00:21.449 --> 00:00:26.099 It can also refer to the art of working with text—something you probably do all the time 00:00:26.099 --> 00:00:33.390 if you create documents or other projects for work, school, or yourself. 00:00:33.390 --> 00:00:37.430 Typography can be an intimidating subject, but it doesn't have to be. 00:00:37.430 --> 00:00:43.290 You only need to know a little to make a big difference in the stuff you do every day. 00:00:43.290 --> 00:00:45.470 So let's get started. 00:00:45.470 --> 00:00:52.989 First: Some common types of fonts, and what you need to know about them. 00:00:52.989 --> 00:00:58.219 Serif fonts have little strokes called serifs attached to the main part of the letter. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:02.840 Because of their classic look, they're a good choice for more traditional projects. 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:11.270 They're also common in print publications, like magazines and newspapers. 00:01:11.270 --> 00:01:18.570 Sans serif fonts don't have that extra stroke—hence the name, which is French for "without serif." 00:01:18.570 --> 00:01:22.290 This style is considered more clean and modern than serif fonts. 00:01:22.290 --> 00:01:31.140 Also, it tends to be easier to read on computer screens, including smartphones and tablets. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:38.800 Display fonts come in many different styles, like script, blackletter, all-caps, and just 00:01:38.800 --> 00:01:41.800 plain fancy. 00:01:41.800 --> 00:01:46.930 Because of their decorative nature, display fonts are best for small amounts of text; 00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:53.560 for example, titles and headers, and more graphic-heavy designs. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:56.280 In a way, fonts have their own language. 00:01:56.280 --> 00:02:00.740 They all have something to say, beyond the words on the page. 00:02:00.740 --> 00:02:07.420 They can come across as casual or neutral; exotic or... graphic. 00:02:07.420 --> 00:02:14.030 That's why it's important to think about your message, and pick a font that fits. 00:02:14.030 --> 00:02:21.080 Some fonts come with a extra baggage, like Comic Sans, Curlz, Papyrus, and many more. 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:25.400 There's nothing particularly wrong with these fonts—they just have a certain reputation 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:29.340 for being outdated and overused. 00:02:29.340 --> 00:02:34.050 If you find yourself tempted by them, think twice and consider using something else. 00:02:34.050 --> 00:02:39.120 There are many fonts with a similar look and feel that are less likely to detract from 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.630 your message. 00:02:43.630 --> 00:02:47.660 When deciding which fonts to use, less is more. 00:02:47.660 --> 00:02:51.590 It's best to limit yourself to one or two per project. 00:02:51.590 --> 00:02:56.790 If you need more contrast, try repeating one of your fonts in a different size, weight, 00:02:56.790 --> 00:02:57.870 or style. 00:02:57.870 --> 00:03:04.710 This trick is practically foolproof for creating interesting combinations that work. 00:03:04.710 --> 00:03:07.650 You've probably heard the saying "opposites attract." 00:03:07.650 --> 00:03:11.110 Well, the same is true for fonts. 00:03:11.110 --> 00:03:15.900 Don't be afraid to combine font styles that are different but complementary, like sans 00:03:15.900 --> 00:03:23.910 serif with serif... short with tall... or decorative with simple. 00:03:23.910 --> 00:03:27.320 This can be challenging at first, but don't despair. 00:03:27.320 --> 00:03:34.330 Look to other designs for inspiration, and soon you'll get the hang of it. 00:03:34.330 --> 00:03:40.320 Maybe you've heard terms like kerning, leading, tracking, and hierarchy. 00:03:40.320 --> 00:03:45.160 For those with more experience, these concepts are essential for creating professional-looking 00:03:45.160 --> 00:03:46.430 designs. 00:03:46.430 --> 00:03:51.360 As a beginner, you don't need to know everything about these terms—just enough to inform 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:58.750 your work and help you talk about design with more confidence. 00:03:58.750 --> 00:04:03.069 Hierarchy is used to guide the reader's eye to whatever is most important. 00:04:03.069 --> 00:04:08.160 In other words, it shows them where to begin and where to go next, using different levels 00:04:08.160 --> 00:04:10.920 of emphasis. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:15.980 Establishing hierarchy is simple: just decide which elements you want the reader to notice 00:04:15.980 --> 00:04:19.419 first, then make them stand out. 00:04:19.419 --> 00:04:24.140 High-level items are usually larger, bolder, or different in some way. 00:04:24.140 --> 00:04:32.139 Remember to keep it simple and stick to just a few complementary styles. 00:04:32.139 --> 00:04:37.800 Leading is the space between lines of text, also known as line spacing. 00:04:37.800 --> 00:04:43.810 If you're not sure how much line spacing to use, don't fret—the default is usually fine. 00:04:43.810 --> 00:04:47.700 The goal is to make your text as comfortable to read as possible. 00:04:47.700 --> 00:04:54.510 Too much or too little spacing can make it unpleasant for the reader. 00:04:54.510 --> 00:05:00.380 Tracking is the overall space between characters, sometimes called character spacing. 00:05:00.380 --> 00:05:05.610 Most programs let you condense or expand this depending on your needs. 00:05:05.610 --> 00:05:10.580 In some designs, you might adjust your tracking to create a certain artistic effect. 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:17.380 It can also help you fix fonts that are poorly spaced to begin with. 00:05:17.380 --> 00:05:21.340 Kerning is the space between specific characters. 00:05:21.340 --> 00:05:25.990 Unlike tracking, it varies over the course of the word, because each letter fits together 00:05:25.990 --> 00:05:27.650 differently. 00:05:27.650 --> 00:05:33.370 Some fonts have what we call "bad kerning," making certain letters look improperly spaced. 00:05:33.370 --> 00:05:38.070 If a font you're using has bad kerning, it's best to cut your losses and choose something 00:05:38.070 --> 00:05:41.740 else. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:48.400 Well-crafted text can mean the difference between an ordinary project... and an extraordinary 00:05:48.400 --> 00:05:51.500 project—even if you're just getting started with design. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:56.850 All it takes is an interest in typography, and you'll start to notice more, see more, 00:05:56.850 --> 00:06:03.090 and be able to do more in your own work. 00:06:03.090 --> 00:06:05.729 We hope you enjoyed learning the basics of typography. 00:06:05.729 --> 00:06:10.750 Don't forget to check out the rest of our design topics, including color, images, and 00:06:10.750 --> 00:06:11.240 composition.