Letterform Anatomy

HtiQfgxRa e yp fiT

Ascent Line

Cap Line

Mean Line

Baseline

Descent Line

Stem or Main Stroke Crossbar

Tittle

Bowl

Ascender

TerminalEar Counter

Shoulder

Leg

Juncture or JointLoop or BowlTailSerifCrossbar

Cap Height

x-Height

Aperture Eye Desenders Ligature

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Adobe and the Adobe logo are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. ©2000 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Online Privacy Policy.

Adobe Print Publishing Technical Guides

Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

Understanding the fundamental principles and concepts of typography is the first step to being a successful typog-rapher. The most basic component of typography is the letter, and each letter of the alphabet is distinguished by its unique shape, or letterform. This technical guide includes definitions for and illustrations of the individual parts that compose letterforms, as well as the boundaries by which letterforms are delineated.

Boundaries

baselineThe imaginary horizontal line upon which the majority of the characters in a typeface sit.

caplineThe imaginary horizontal line resting upon the tops of the uppercase letters.

meanlineThe imaginary horizontal line that designates the height of lowercase letters.

2ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

x-heightTraditionally, the height of the lowercase letter x. As a general rule, x-height is the height of the body of lowercase letters of a typeface, excluding the ascenders and descenders. Some lowercase letters may extend a little bit above or below the x-height as part of their design, even without ascenders and descenders. X-height can vary considerably among typefaces with the same point size, which is based on the width of certain uppercase letters.

Letterform parts

apexThe peak of an uppercase A.

armA horizontal portion of a letterform, one or both ends of which are unattached to the vertical portion(s).

ascenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., k, b, or d) that ascends above the x-height of the typeface. Contrast descender.

1

Adobe and the Adobe logo are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. ©2000 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. Terms of Use. Online Privacy Policy.

Adobe Print Publishing Technical Guides

Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

Understanding the fundamental principles and concepts of typography is the first step to being a successful typog-rapher. The most basic component of typography is the letter, and each letter of the alphabet is distinguished by its unique shape, or letterform. This technical guide includes definitions for and illustrations of the individual parts that compose letterforms, as well as the boundaries by which letterforms are delineated.

Boundaries

baselineThe imaginary horizontal line upon which the majority of the characters in a typeface sit.

caplineThe imaginary horizontal line resting upon the tops of the uppercase letters.

meanlineThe imaginary horizontal line that designates the height of lowercase letters.

2ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

x-heightTraditionally, the height of the lowercase letter x. As a general rule, x-height is the height of the body of lowercase letters of a typeface, excluding the ascenders and descenders. Some lowercase letters may extend a little bit above or below the x-height as part of their design, even without ascenders and descenders. X-height can vary considerably among typefaces with the same point size, which is based on the width of certain uppercase letters.

Letterform parts

apexThe peak of an uppercase A.

armA horizontal portion of a letterform, one or both ends of which are unattached to the vertical portion(s).

ascenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., k, b, or d) that ascends above the x-height of the typeface. Contrast descender.

3ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

beakAkin to a spur, but slightly larger, the projection that extends from the end points of an uppercase L, T, or E.

bowlA curved portion of the letterform that encloses a counter. The exception in the lower curved part of a lowercase g (see loop).

bracketThe curve that connects the serif to the stem or stroke. May also be referred to as a fillet.

counterThe negative space of a letterform. A counter may be either fully or partially enclosed.

crossbarThe horizontal part of a letterform that connects, for example, a stem to a hairline.

2ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

x-heightTraditionally, the height of the lowercase letter x. As a general rule, x-height is the height of the body of lowercase letters of a typeface, excluding the ascenders and descenders. Some lowercase letters may extend a little bit above or below the x-height as part of their design, even without ascenders and descenders. X-height can vary considerably among typefaces with the same point size, which is based on the width of certain uppercase letters.

Letterform parts

apexThe peak of an uppercase A.

armA horizontal portion of a letterform, one or both ends of which are unattached to the vertical portion(s).

ascenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., k, b, or d) that ascends above the x-height of the typeface. Contrast descender.

3ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

beakAkin to a spur, but slightly larger, the projection that extends from the end points of an uppercase L, T, or E.

bowlA curved portion of the letterform that encloses a counter. The exception in the lower curved part of a lowercase g (see loop).

bracketThe curve that connects the serif to the stem or stroke. May also be referred to as a fillet.

counterThe negative space of a letterform. A counter may be either fully or partially enclosed.

crossbarThe horizontal part of a letterform that connects, for example, a stem to a hairline.

4ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

cross strokeThe horizontal part of a letterform that intersects the vertical part.

descenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., y, p, or q) that descends below the baseline in a typeface. In some typefaces, the uppercase J and Q also descend below the baseline. Contrast ascender.

earThe small decorative projection from the upper right side a lowercase g.

eyeThe enclosed portion of a lowercase e. Similar to a counter.

hairlineThe thinnest line of a typeface made of varying line weights.

3ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

beakAkin to a spur, but slightly larger, the projection that extends from the end points of an uppercase L, T, or E.

bowlA curved portion of the letterform that encloses a counter. The exception in the lower curved part of a lowercase g (see loop).

bracketThe curve that connects the serif to the stem or stroke. May also be referred to as a fillet.

counterThe negative space of a letterform. A counter may be either fully or partially enclosed.

crossbarThe horizontal part of a letterform that connects, for example, a stem to a hairline.

4ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

cross strokeThe horizontal part of a letterform that intersects the vertical part.

descenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., y, p, or q) that descends below the baseline in a typeface. In some typefaces, the uppercase J and Q also descend below the baseline. Contrast ascender.

earThe small decorative projection from the upper right side a lowercase g.

eyeThe enclosed portion of a lowercase e. Similar to a counter.

hairlineThe thinnest line of a typeface made of varying line weights.

5ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

legThe lower, angled stroke of a k.

linkThe part of a lowercase g that connects the loop to the bowl.

loopThe curved part of a lowercase g that encloses the lower counter. Similar to a bowl.

serifSmall decorative lines added to the end of a letterforms's stem and stroke. Serifs improve readability by leading the eye along a line of type.

spineThe main portion of the letter S—both lowercase and uppercase—that curves from left to right.

4ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

cross strokeThe horizontal part of a letterform that intersects the vertical part.

descenderThe portion of a lowercase letterform (e.g., y, p, or q) that descends below the baseline in a typeface. In some typefaces, the uppercase J and Q also descend below the baseline. Contrast ascender.

earThe small decorative projection from the upper right side a lowercase g.

eyeThe enclosed portion of a lowercase e. Similar to a counter.

hairlineThe thinnest line of a typeface made of varying line weights.

5ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

legThe lower, angled stroke of a k.

linkThe part of a lowercase g that connects the loop to the bowl.

loopThe curved part of a lowercase g that encloses the lower counter. Similar to a bowl.

serifSmall decorative lines added to the end of a letterforms's stem and stroke. Serifs improve readability by leading the eye along a line of type.

spineThe main portion of the letter S—both lowercase and uppercase—that curves from left to right.

6ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

spurThe projection that extends from the end point of the curved portion of a letterform (e.g., from the top or bottom of an uppercase or lowercase S or C). A spur is smaller than a serif.

stemThe main vertical or near vertical portion of a letterform.

strokeThe main diagonal portion of a letterform, though this term is often used to refer to any of the main portions–vertical, near vertical, or diagonal–of a letterform.

tailThe stroke or loop at the end of a letterform, such as the tail of an uppercase Q or the stroke on an uppercase R.

terminalThe end, or termination, of a stem or stroke with no serif.

5ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

legThe lower, angled stroke of a k.

linkThe part of a lowercase g that connects the loop to the bowl.

loopThe curved part of a lowercase g that encloses the lower counter. Similar to a bowl.

serifSmall decorative lines added to the end of a letterforms's stem and stroke. Serifs improve readability by leading the eye along a line of type.

spineThe main portion of the letter S—both lowercase and uppercase—that curves from left to right.

6ADOBE PRINT PUBLISHING TECHNICAL GUIDES Typography basics: Anatomy of letterforms

spurThe projection that extends from the end point of the curved portion of a letterform (e.g., from the top or bottom of an uppercase or lowercase S or C). A spur is smaller than a serif.

stemThe main vertical or near vertical portion of a letterform.

strokeThe main diagonal portion of a letterform, though this term is often used to refer to any of the main portions–vertical, near vertical, or diagonal–of a letterform.

tailThe stroke or loop at the end of a letterform, such as the tail of an uppercase Q or the stroke on an uppercase R.

terminalThe end, or termination, of a stem or stroke with no serif.

Typography employs a number of technical terms. These mostly describe specific parts of letterforms. Knowing a letterform’s component parts makes it much easier to identify the type’s classification and even the specific typeface.

BaselineThe imaginary line defining the visual base of letterforms (see the diagram below).

MedianThe imaginary line defining the x-height of letterforms (see the diagram below).

X-heightThe height in any typeface of the lowercase “x” (see the diagram below).

ascender heightcap height

median

baseline

descender height

Letter Anatomy – Definitions

x-heightM p h x

b d p q

Letter Anatomy – Definitions

StrokeAny line that defines the basic letterforms.

Apex/VertexThe point created by joining two diagonal stems (apex above, vertex below)

ArmShort strokes off the stem of the letterform, either horizontal (E, F, T) or inclined upward (K, Y)

AscenderThe portion of the stem of a lowercase letterform that projects above the median.

Barb The half-serif finish on some curved strokes.

BeakThe half-serif finish on some horizontal arms.

BowlThe rounded form that describes a counter. The bowl may be either open or closed.

BracketThe transition between the serif and the stem.

CounterThe negative space within a letterform, either fully or partially enclosed.

Cross BarThe horizontal stroke in a letterform that joins two stems together.

Cross StrokeThe horizontal stroke in a letterform that intersects the stem.

CrotchThe interior space where two strokes meet.

DescenderThat portion of the stem of a lowercase letterform that projects below the baseline.

EarThe stoke extending out from the main stem or body of the letterform.

Em/EnOriginally referring to the width of an uppercase M, an em is now the distance equal to the size of the typeface (an em in 48pt type is 48 points, for example). An en is half the size of an em. Most often used to describe em/en spaces and em/en dashes.

FinialThe rounded non-serif terminal to a stroke.

LegShort stroke off the stem of the letterform, either at the bottom of the stroke (L) or inclined downward (K, R).

LigatureThe character formed by the combination of two or more letterforms.

LinkThe stroke that connects the bowl and the loop of a lowercase G.

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A B C T l M d p

A M V

F T Y A H f a

b d h k f t L K R

g r

g

C G S K Vfi f l

E T L p q y

a d P C

LoopIn some typefaces, the bowl created in the descender of the lowercase G.

SerifThe right-angled or oblique foot at the end of the stroke.

ShoulderThe curved stroke that is not part of a bowl.

SpineThe curved stem of the S.

SpurThe extension that articulates the junction of a curved and rectilinear stroke.

StemThe significant vertical or oblique stroke.

StressThe orientation of the letterform, indicated by the thin stroke in rounded forms.

SwashThe flourish that extends the stroke of a letterform.

TailThe curved or diagonal stroke at the finish of certain letterforms.

TerminalThe self-contained finish of a stroke without a serif. This is something of a catch-all term. Terminals may be flat (‘T’, above), flared, acute (‘t’, above), concave, convex or rounded as well as a ball or a teardrop (see finial).

A T W

A T M Q j

h n T t

S s

b q G

T V b p

O O e e

Letter Anatomy – Definitions

g