CHAPTER 2 – APPLYING AND MODIFYING FONTS
UNDERSTANDING BASIC TYPOGRAPHY
When creating a document, you will need to choose type specifications. These include typeface,
type size, and type style.
Defining Typefaces
A typeface is a set of characters with a common design and shape. The typeface establishes a
particular mood or feeling in a document.
Monospaced typeface – same amount of horizontal space per character
Proportional typeface – allow varying amount of space (serif or sans serif)
- Serif – a small stroke at the end of a character, used for text-intensive documents
- Sans Serif – without serifs often used in headlines or not text-intensive
Use two spaces after end-of-sentence punctuation with monospaced type but only one with
proportional-spaced type. Proportional type is set closer.
Parts of Type:
Baseline – imaginary horizontal resting line-
x-height – height of main body of lowercase characters
cap height – distance between the baseline and top of capitals
Ascenders – parts of lowercase characters that rise above the x-height
Descenders – parts of lowercase characters that extend below the baseline
Defining Type Sizes
Type size is defined by pitch and point size. Pitch, used to identify monospaced typefaces, is the
number of characters per horizontal inch. Points are the vertical measurement of proportional
type. There are 72 points to an inch.
To change the font size, type or click the point size in the Font Size list box, or the Grow/Shrink
Font buttons in the Font group.
Defining Typestyles
The type style refers to variations of the basic type design, including regular or normal, bold
and italics.
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APPLYING DESKTOP PUBLISHING GUIDELINES
Too many typefaces and typestyles give the document a disorderly appearance, confuses the
reader, and takes away from the content of the document. Two fonts and three different font
sizes are usually adequate for most publications.
Using Fonts to Enhance Design
Font designs can be harmonious, conflicting, or contrasting.
Fonts should match the mood and tone of your message.
Fonts that Save Ink
Different fonts require different amounts of ink (e.g. Century Gothic less than Arial). Choosing a
font with "narrow" or "light" in its name is more ink efficient than a font with "bold" or "black"
in its name.
Changing Default Font Formatting
At the Font dialogue box, select the font you want to use and click Set as Default.
Changing Font Colour
Use the font colour button on the home tab in the font group to change the font colour. The
More Colours option allows you to choose additional colours or customize colours by adjusting
the luminescence (brightness), hue (colour itself), or the saturation (intensity).
If you choose Automatic at the Font colour palette and then change the background to black,
the text will automatically display in the reverse colour, e.g. white on black.
ADDING SYMBOLS/SPECIAL CHARACTERS TO A DOCUMENT
Symbols and special characters can be used to add interest and originality to your documents.
At the Insert tab, click the Symbols button on the Symbols group. Click the More button to
display a palette of choices at the various font choices. To insert a special character, choose the
Special Characters tab. There is also a list of keyboard shortcut keys at the Special Characters
tab. You can also customize your own shortcut key combinations for symbols that you use
often. Refer to the Windows character set handout for additional shortcuts.
Creating Em and En Dashes
An Em dash indicates a pause in speech; an En dash is used for continuation and is half the size
of the Em dash. These characters can be inserted at the Special Characters tab, through
keyboard shortcuts.
Chapter 2 Applying and Modifying Fonts Page 3
Using Smart Quotes
Smart Quotes can be used by using the AutoFormat feature found under
Options/Proofing/AutoCorrect Options/AutoFormat As You Type. This feature chooses the
quote style (straight or curved) that is appropriate.
APPLYING ADVANCED FORMATTING
Adjusting Character Spacing
Access the Font dialogue box, and use options at the Advanced tab to adjust the space between
characters (tracking and kerning). Kerned characters include AV, TA, Ty, Vi, and WA.
Applying Open Type Features (Ligatures, Number Spacing, Number Forms
This font format was new to Word 2010 and was developed jointly by Microsoft and Adobe. It
provides more advanced font options such as ligatures (combined characters), swashes
(exaggerated serifs), number spacing (proportional or tabular), number forms (Lining or Old
style), and stylistic sets.
