It's not absolutely necessary for most font users to know the precise difference between a spur and a beak or a tail and a leg, but it is fun and can make you feel and sound smart. Instead of resorting to terms such as "that little round thingamagig at the top of the f" or "the curvy connector bit in the middle of the funny-looking g" you can use real terms like ball terminal or the link in a double-storey g. Take a look at three broad terms with which most designers should have at least a nodding aquaintence and several related elements that help define a typeface.
- Strokes
Think about the strokes you make with a pen when printing letters and you'll have an idea what the broad meaning of stroke is for a font.Most letterforms are made up of several specific types of strokes:
- Stems - In a way, it's like a flower stem.
- Extenders - Reach for the sky or touch your toes.
- Arms - If a letter were a person, these would be like arms.
- Crossbars - Think of them as connecting strokes.
- Cross Strokes - Cross your t's.
- Tail - A few letters love to wag their tails.
- Leg - Most letters don't have one to stand on.
- Bowls - Not for soup or cereal, they hold nothing.
- Counters
This part of a letter is what's inside the bowl. It's white space or negative space, not a stroke at all.There are other more specific terms for some of the negative space that defines a letterform:
- Serifs
Probably the most familiar characteristic of type, serifs come in three basic shapes and fall into one of two groups.Similar to serifs, each of these letterparts may be understated or may form a distinctive, readily identifiable element of a typeface:
- Ears - Gee, why can't I hear you?
- Spurs - Not just for cowboys.
- Beaks - No birds here.
- Chins - Some letters have a strong one.
