Kerning Lecture

MONOFACE TYPE

This lecture talked about how before computer and digital type kerning wasn't a major factor because typewriter used a fixed kerning for every letter called monoface type. This links to that idea that typewriter style fonts should always be kept to the kerning they are set, this relate to my studio brief 1 as i will look at using typewriter style fonts to show the age of the company in a retro style. in the past they were given a set rule for kerning but in the new age we can change it easily and should use this for a advantage, we can change any common kerning problems we come around like in my last brief with W's, the normal issues are with letters VWY, numerals and punctuation. Learning the different way to kern will allow me to change any issues i face in the future in which ever way i find most suitable.

METRIC

this kerns in pairs and is inbuilt usually to the type, it works with the idea that the letterform is a block and treats it as this which can be problematic as letters like OCW are miss judged the space.

OPTICAL

this is the style i should be using as it sees the letterforms as shapes rather than blocks so the spacing is to how close the last part of the letter is rather than to the block. Its easy to change to optical kerning on all graphic design software and many leading designer advise this, so i will make sure the first kerning i look at on all experiments is this.

V/A        SYMBOL ON SOFTWARE

MANUAL

this is done by eye and will usually give the best results as the designer has complete control over the spacing and can make it fit for the given letterform, it can be used to change any issues with the other types of kerning too.


Being able to use all these different types of kerning will give me a greater way to experiment and see my work in different way to asses which i prefer so will be really useful on my brief with logo type as i can now use these way on photoshop and illustrator. Adjusting the kerning manually gives me more control over the word too and now i know the importance of kerning i can use this to inform my design decisions. i can also appreciate the examples of bad kerning that changes the meaning of a letter form and can change how people read it as well as what the word actually means if its done badly.