Typography Card

Cardbook system

K
Type guidebook for beginners

GUIDE
BOOK Sans Serif

3 CHAPTERS

50
FONTS
By Konstantinas Ladauskas
 02

Typography
cardbook
Written and designed by Konstantinas Ladauskas

Copyright ©2023 Konstantinas Ladauskas

All rights reserved
 03

Table of contents
Intro
Introduction 04 Display 12

Font types 05 Script 14

Serif 06 Monospaced 16
Sans Serif 09

Basics
Typography basics 18 Kerning 27

Anatomy of type 19 Tracking 29

Typeface families 20 Leading 30

Font weights 21 Alignment 31

Variable fonts 22 Hierarchy 32

Character traits 24 Grid types 34
Alternate glyphs 25 Grid anatomy 35

Numerals 26 Grids 36

Tips and tricks

Typography tips 41 Excersices 47

Fonts to avoid 42 Typeface list 48

Tips and tricks 43 Conclusion 50

Font pairing 45
 04

Introduction
As a graphic designer, I have always been fascinated by typography and the
way it is used on signs, billboards, posters, and other media.

However, when I created those same design projects, they felt unbalanced
and wrong. My initial thought was that I was using the wrong fonts and that I
needed to purchase premium typefaces like Helvetica and Futura.

Then I began to read about typography basics, such as kerning, hierarchy,

font pairing, and other related topics. I soon realized that the key to creating
visually appealing designs is how you use the typeface.

That’s why I created this book - to provide you with the knowledge and skills
necessary to master typography. The book includes a comprehensive font
library that you can use to explore and experiment with different typefaces.

How to read the cards

This book is organized around a card system, with each page containing a
number of cards that explore different topics. This approach makes it easier
and more enjoyable to learn about typography.

X X-height

Libre Baskerville Font

There should always be an
illustration or example of the topic.

This text under the graphic will

represent the font used in the example.

This is the Main text that will be a

X-height in type short summary of the card.

X-height is the height of lowercase

letters. It is from the baseline to the Bottom text is the description
mean line. The letter x is the same on the topic.
height as the x-height.
 05

Font types
Fonts also called typefaces are one of the most important elements of design.
They can convey mood, tone, personality, and style. Fonts can also enhance
readability, usability, and accessibility. In this chapter, we will talk about different
types of fonts.
Font types 06

Serif
A serif font is a typeface that has small lines or flourishes at the end of
each letterform. These lines can evoke a sense of history and tradition,
as well as honesty and integrity.

Serif meaning Line weight

A serif is a decorative element that Serifs have a common small line or a
finishes off the end of a letter's stem. stroke regularly attached to the end of
a larger stroke in a letter or symbol.

small line or stroke regularly

attached to the end of a larger
stroke in a letter or symbol within
a particular font

EB Garamond Font Merriweather Font

Serif use cases

Classical Serif fonts communicate
professionalism and sophistication.
Domine Font They feel more classical and historical.
Font types 07

Serif
Serif classifications

Morning
Old style serifs
Old Style is a typeface that mimics
ancient scribes’ writing. It has curved
Gentium Book Plus Font and thick-thin strokes.

Slab serifs
Afternoon A slab serif is a serif typeface with thick,
block-like serifs. It has various names
Arvo Font like square serif or Egyptian.

Evening
Hairline serifs
Hairline serif is a typeface with very thin
serifs. They create a high-contrast effect
Bodoni Moda Font that makes the font look modern.

Nigh Wedge serifs

Wedge serif is a typeface with triangular
serifs at the end of letter strokes that
gives it a very sophisticated look.
Wremena Font
Font types 08

Serif
Serif typeface use examples

Serifs are the main typefaces used in books and print due to perceived
readability. Here is an example of an old serif used in a book.
Photo: Pexels

Serifs feel sophisticated, making them the Serifs also convey a sense of premium feeling,
perfect typeface for encyclopedias. that's why Rolex uses a serif typeface.
Photo: Unsplash Photo: Unsplash
Font types 09

Sans Serif
Sans serif typefaces are fonts that do not have the end strokes that are
characteristic of a serif typeface, so they are named “sans,” which is the
French word for “without.” These fonts look modern and minimal.

Serifs gone Geometric

Sans serif eliminates any serif from Sans serif fonts tend to look more
a typeface, creating a sleek and geometric than their serif

K a
contemporary look. counterparts.

small line or stroke regularly

attached to the end of a larger
stroke in a letter or symbol within
a particular font

Archivo Font Inter Font

Hello
Sans Serif use cases
Because of their modern and minimal
look, they are often used for headlines,
logos, and digital media.
Poppins Font
Font types 10

Sans Serif
San Serif classifications

Morning
Grotesque
Grotesque is the oldest style of sans
serif type and has a somewhat
Karla Font uneven and clumsy shapes.

Neo Grotesque
Afternoon Neo-grotesque is a sans serif typeface
that draws from the grotesque style but
Montserrat Font has a more simple and clean look.

Geometric
Evening Geometric sans serifs are typefaces
that use geometric shapes, like circles
Questrial Font and squares, to form letters.

Nigh
Humanist
Humanist sans serif typefaces
look like handwriting. They are
Marmelad Font warm and friendly.
Font types 11

Sans Serif
Sans Serif typeface use examples

Photo: Pexel
Sans serifs are commonly used as Bold and tall all caps sans serif typeface is
street signs for their readability. a great attention grabber, like this warning.
Photo: Pexels Photo: Pexels

Modern and clean, that's the essence of what a sans serif typeface brings to the
table. Here's how it enhances the design of a car's dashboard.
Photo: Unsplash
Font types 12

Display
Display typefaces are designed for a large text that draws attention. They will
often have more creative and unique designs than the simple typefaces that
are used for body text.

DISPLAY Saint Font

When and why?

Display fonts are used to create eye-catching elements that attract
the users’ attention. They have unique and interesting looks that
make them more enjoyable to look at than something like a serif
font. Use it on posters or websites headlines.

This is a placeholder
text block thats

Attention Le Murmure Font

purposes is only to
show how it looks in
different situations
GTL001 Font

Attention grabber Display is never small

Make it bolder and larger, add Display typefaces lose their
some color to it and voilà, That appeal and readability when they
grabs the users attention. are scaled down.
Font types 13

Display
Display typeface use examples

This bright and charming Las Vegas sign radiates casino energy with its creative
typeface that captures our attention.

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Pexel
Example of a custom display typeface Two different display typefaces on this
on a fire prevention poster. old-school poster.
Photo: Unsplash Photo: Unsplash
Font types 14

Script
Script fonts are a type of fonts that mimic the fluid and elegant strokes of
handwriting. These fonts are often used for invitations, logos, signatures,
and headlines, as they convey a sense of personality and flair.

Hand-writen feeling Tangerine Font

When and why?

Script fonts are inspired by handwriting and calligraphy. You should use
script fonts when you want to convey a vintage feel, a personal touch, or a
sense of style and charm. Script fonts are appropriate for historical works,
wedding cards, book covers, logos, signatures, and headlines.

kernless CAPS
Borel Font League Script Font

No kerning here Avoid all caps

Script typefaces have connected lines Avoid all caps on script typefaces
that mimic natural handwriting, but because that will reduce readability,
kerning breaks this illusion. lose nuance, and break the natural
flow of the handwriting style
Font types 15

Script
Script typeface use examples

Photo: Pexel
The burger text on the garage door feels Handwritten script type on paper with a
personal and handwritten. pen and ink.
Photo: Unsplash Photo: Pexels

Presented in a decorative script type, this composition elegantly showcases the complete
alphabet on a sheet of paper, meticulously crafted with a pen and ink.
Photo: Unsplash
Font types 16

Monospace
A font that has equal horizontal spacing for all its letters and characters is
called a monospaced font. It is also known as a fixed-pitch, fixed-width, or
non-proportional font.

Monospace
IBM Plex Mono Font

Proportional
Geologica Font

When and why?

The monospaced typeface is a good choice when you want to highlight the individual
letters or line up numbers in a column. It can also give your text a retro or simple feel that
reminds you of typewriter lettering. Monospaced is also used in coding.

Different sizes
This is text look weird
This is smaller text Monospaced typefaces create a
strange contrast when they are placed
DM Mono Font close to each other with different sizes.
Font types 17

Monospace
Monospace typeface use examples

A great demonstration of how each monospaced letter possesses

its own individual block.
Photo: Pexels

Photo: Pexel
Old-school typewriters commonly use Monospace typefaces are used in
monospaced typefaces. programming for alignment and readability.
Photo: Pexels Photo: Unsplash
 18

Typography basics
This chapter will cover topics such as typeface families and their weights,
basic typography concepts like kerning, tracking, and leading, and how to
create hierarchy and alignment in type.
Typography basics 19

Anatomy of type
Anatomy of type is the term that describes the visual elements that make up
the letters in a typeface. It includes the individual parts of a letterform, such
as a stem, serif, bar, shoulder, and more.

Shoulder Ascender
Stem

Serif Descender

Cap height

Anatomy
Bar

Base line

Libre Baskerville Font

X
X-height in type
X-height

A
Letter width
X-height is the height of lowercase Width refers to how much horizontal
letters. It is from the baseline to the space a typeface’s characters occupy.
mean line. The letter x is the same A condensed face uses much less
height as the x-height. space than a wide one.
Typography basics 20

Typeface families
A typeface family is a group of typeface designs that have a similar style or
theme. A typeface family can have different variations in features. Some
typeface families are split into sub-families such as serif and sans serif.

1 family 6 variations 3 - 6 weights

Roboto

aaaaa a a a aaaa
Roboto condensed Roboto slab

aaa aaa aaaaa a

Roboto serif

aa a a a a a a a
There are two more variations of Roboto font
Mono Roboto that is a monospaced version of the original Roboto
font and Flex Roboto that is a variable font made for the web.

Roboto slab Font pairing

Main text A simple font pairing technique is to

start with only one family and create
contrast by using different weights
Secondary text Roboto and styles.
Typography basics 21

Font weights
Weight is the term for the thickness of the stroke of a typeface’s character in
a given font. The most common weights are regular and bold, but some
typefaces have weights that range from very thin to very thick.

Rubic Light

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubic Regular

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubic Medium

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubic Semibold

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubic Bold

Rubic Extrabold

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubic Black

The five boxing wizards jump quickly.

Rubik Font

Skip a weight Extrabold

Skip Bold
When you are creating hierarchy don’t
use weights that are next to each other. Medium
You use weights that stand out from each Skip Regular
other for better readability and visibility. Light
Typography basics 22

Variable fonts
Variable fonts give you control over how bold and heavy the text is, how wide or condensed it
appears, and whether it is slanted or not, you choose how the font looks.

0 500 1000

Rethink Sans Font

Choice is yours
The most common variable type is weight, you don’t
need to be restricted to traditional thin, regular, bold
weights, now you can choose somewhere in between.

Normal Rounded
Recursive Font

From formal to casual

Certain typefaces allow you to customize the
roundness of the text, giving you the
flexibility to adjust it to your preferences.
Typography basics 23

Variable fonts
Sliders are the means by which you change variable fonts. Move them from left to right and observe
how the typefaces change right in front of you.

Weight

Width

Op size

Roboto flex Font

Multiple variables
While most variable fonts have one or maybe two sliders for
adjusting the font, some have multiple sliders, each
controlling different type parameters.

Variable naming
Slider names might seem confusing, but
they are simply shortened versions of
WDTH OPSZ SLNT
words such as width, optical size, and slant.
Typography basics 24

Character traits
The most common formatting types for text are bold, italic, underline, and strikeout, these character
traits all have their own purpose in text.

Text Text
Bold Italic
Bold text is great for emphasizing Italic text is used for quotes,
important phrases and highlighting dialogues, foreign words, or
keywords. It’s mainly used to grab the highlighting names of books, blogs
reader's attention. newspapers, and more.

Text Text
Underline Strikeout
Underline text is mostly used in a Strikethrough text is used to show
way to highlight a hyperlink in the deletions or changes, often in editing,
web, but it’s also used to highlight corrections, completed tasks, or
important words. price adjustments.
Typography basics 25

Alternate glyphs
Alternate glyphs in typography are alternative versions for specific characters, offering designers
flexibility and creative options when working with typefaces.

Two-story Single-story

Bagel Βɑɡel
Noto Serif Display Font

More options
Here are two glyph options: two-story and single-
story characters. They serve the same purpose,
and you can choose the version you prefer.

st st
This is a PLACEHOLDER text block
whose purpose is only to show
how it looks in different situations
when working with TYPOGRAPHY.
Playfair Display Font

Ligatures Small caps

A ligature unites frequently paired When you are creating a hierarchy don’t
characters into a single glyph, enhancing use weights that are next to each other.
the overall reading experience for a more You use weights that stand out from each
harmonious flow. other for better readability and visibility.
Typography basics 26

Numerals
Numerals in a typeface represent numbers, and many fonts offer various
numeral styles for different uses.

Lining numerals

Oldstyle numerals

Raleway Font

Lining numerals Oldstyle numerals

Lining numerals resemble uppercase Oldstyle numerals follow the logic of
letters, with their height aligning with the lowercase letters, with certain numerals
cap height, and all rest upon the baseline. having ascenders or descenders.

The orange tree is an evergreen,

euros 124.64 flowering tree, with an average

euros 486.73 height of 9 to 10 m (30 to 33 ft),

although some very old specimens
euros 762.19 can reach 15 m (49 ft).

Roboto Mono Font Martel Font

Monospaced Oldstyle use

numerals
Oldstyle numerals are great when
These numbers align vertically, making
numbers and text play similar roles and
them perfect for tables, timetables, and
need to blend together seamlessly.
any setting where they need to stand in
orderly formation.
Typography basics 27

Kerning
Kerning is the spacing between individual letters or characters and is focused
on how the type looks — creating readable text that’s visually pleasing.

WAVEFORM
Bad Kerning

WAVEFORM
Good Kerning

Instrument Serif Font

HA Water or Sand?
esreveR
Blur it or Reverse it
A common kerning technique is to By blurring or reversing the type, we
imagine sand or water filling the can enhance our perception of the
spaces between the letters and making gaps, as our brains will focus on the
the volumes of the filled spaces equal. shapes rather than the whole words.
Typography basics 28

Kerning
This is where we explore kerning in more detail and examine the spacing guidelines, such
as where to increase or decrease the space between letters.

Open spacing Tight spacing

dn
Nanum Myeongjo Font
oc Lora Font

Two straights Two curves

Two straight lines between characters Curves create an illusion of more space,
require sufficient spacing to maintain as the curves have more spacing from
legibility and prevent crowding. the top and bottom edges.

bk
Normal spacing Very tight spacing

Open sans Font

AX Lato Font

Curve and straight Two Diagonals

A curve and a straight line require normal Two diagonals create sharp edges
spacing, as straight lines demand more where they intersect and leave a lot of
space and curves prefer less space. space around them.
Typography basics 29

Tracking
Tracking is the term for adjusting the horizontal space between letters in a
word or line. Tracking is also known as letter spacing and it can make the
space between letters larger or smaller, improving the overall look of the text.

Increased tracking Tracking: 50%

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Standart tracking Tracking: 0%

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Decreased tracking Tracking: -50%

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Decreased tracking Tracking: -75%

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Golos Text Font

-25 % tracking

Lightweight BIG TEXT

TIGHT
Bricolage Grotesque Font
25 % tracking
Small text that have
multiple lines of text

Light or heavy Size differences

The more tracking you apply to text, Larger text is more attractive with less
the more airy and light it appears. tracking and smaller text is more
Conversely, the less tracking you use, appealing with more tracking.
the more dense and heavy it looks.
Typography basics 30

Leading
Leading is the term for the vertical space between lines of type. It can affect
the readability and appearance of text. Leading is measured from one
baseline (the line where the letters rest) to another.

Tight Leading: 20/18pt Normal Leading: 20/22pt Loose Leading: 20/32pt

Take a look Take a look Take a look

at this thing at this thing at this thing

Tight Leading: 10/9pt Normal Leading: 10/14pt Loose Leading: 10/18pt

This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text

block whose purpose is only
to show how it looks in block whose purpose is only block whose purpose is only
different situations when to show how it looks in
working with typography to show how it looks in
different situations when
working with typography different situations when
working with typography

Leading: 10/14pt Leading: 10/12pt Leading: 10/16pt

This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text block whose This is a placeholder
block whose purpose is only purpose is only to show how it looks in
text block whose
to show how it looks in different situations when working
with typography purpose is only to
different situations when
show how it looks in
working with typography
different situations

Different type
different leading
Different typefaces need different
leading to maintain readability and
look aesthetically pleasing.
Typography basics 31

Alignment
Alignment is the setting of text flow or image placement relative to a
page, column, table cell, or tab. It affects how the text is read and
perceived by the viewers.

Left align Right align

This is a placeholder text block This is a placeholder text block
whose purpose is only to show whose purpose is only to show
how it looks in different how it looks in different
situations when working with situations when working with
typography typography

Centre align Justified align

This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text
block whose purpose is only block whose purpose is
to show how it looks in only to show how it looks in
different situations when different situations when
working with typography working with typography

Left align Centre align

This is a placeholder text block This is a placeholder text
whose purpose is only to show block whose purpose is only
how it looks in different to show how it looks
situations when working with
typography

Left align is the king Centre align for small

blocks of text
For better readability and navigation, justify
your text left. Most Western readers scan Center alignment is suitable for small
text from top to bottom, left to right. and compact text blocks.
Typography basics 32

Hierarchy
Typography hierarchy organizes text to emphasize the relevance of
information. The main goal of hierarchy is to arrange and highlight your text.

With hierarchy Without hierarchy

Hierarchy Hierarchy

Make it visible Make it visible

This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text

block whose purpose is block whose purpose is
only to show how it looks in only to show how it looks in
different situations when different situations when
working with typography working with typography

Headline The heading should highlight the

most relevant information to

Hierarchy capture the reader’s interest.

Subheader The subheader is a great addition

to the heading level, as it breaks
Make it visible the design into segments.

Text The body section contains the

This is a placeholder text main text of your design. This is
block whose purpose is the most frequent and smallest
only to show how it looks in type in a design.
different situations when
working with typography
Typography basics 33

Hierarchy
When you want to create a hierarchy with type sizing, but you don’t want to
eyeball it you can always use the golden ratio.

Don’t eyeball it
Golden ration can give your text
harmony and balance to the
composition with just one trick.
1:1.619
Take, for example, body text that is
10pt in size. Multiply it by 1.619,
and now you have a subheader.
Repeat this process, and you get a
headline.

HEADLINE1 26,2 pt * 1,619

42,5 pt

Headline2 16,2 pt * 1,619

26,2 pt

10 pt * 1,619
Subheader 16,2 pt

Body 10 pt
Typography basics 34

Grid types
Design grids are vital frameworks, organizing elements for structure and harmony.
Here are some diverse grid types found in print or digital media.

Baseline grid Column grid

A baseline grid is dense with Column grids in design systematically
evenly spaced horizontal lines organize a page into vertical sections,
guiding the placement of text and providing a versatile framework for
other media elements aligning and presenting content.

Modular grid Manuscript grid

An extension of the column grid, a A manuscript grid is a simple one-
modular grid incorporates additional column grid structure that is
rows to create adaptable "modules" for commonly used in paperback books.
layout decisions, offering more flexibility.
Typography basics 35

Grid anatomy
Grid anatomy involves the fundamental elements that structure and organize content in design
layouts, offering a systematic framework for achieving visual cohesion and balance.

5
3 4

1 Flowline 2 Module
Alignments that break the A unit of space created by
space into horizontal bands. columns and rows.

4 Margin 3 Gutter
The negative space between The space between
the edge of the outside columns or rows helps
column and the frame. separate the content.

5 Row 6 Column
Evenly spaced horizontal blocks. Evenly spaced vertical blocks.
Typography basics 36

Baseline grids
Simple yet effective, the baseline grid aligns text and other media elements
to horizontal lines for better clarity. Here is an example of its use.

Oranges Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange,

Citrus × aurantium or marmalade orange is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus

× aurantium and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and

has been spread by humans to many parts of the world. All

citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to the single genus

Citrus, and remain almost entirely interfertile. This includes

grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, and various other types

and hybrids. As the interfertility of oranges and other citrus

Citrus Lorenzo has produced numerous hybrids. As of 1987, orange trees

were found to be the most cultivated fruit tree in the world.

Oranges Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange,

Citrus × aurantium or marmalade orange is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus

× aurantium and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and

has been spread by humans to many parts of the world. All

citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to the single genus

Citrus, and remain almost entirely interfertile. This includes

grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, and various other types

and hybrids. As the interfertility of oranges and other citrus

Citrus Lorenzo has produced numerous hybrids. As of 1987, orange trees

were found to be the most cultivated fruit tree in the world.

Typography basics 37

Column grids
One of the most common grids used in print and website design, these columns
help to place text and other media elements. Here is an example of its use.

Oranges Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville

orange, bigarade orange, or
Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville
orange, bigarade orange, or
Citrus × aurantium marmalade orange is (sensu marmalade orange is (sensu
stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × stricto) the citrus tree Citrus ×
aurantium and its fruit. It is native to aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been Southeast Asia and has been
spread by humans to many parts of spread by humans to many parts of
the world. the world.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange
is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange
is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world.
Citrus Lorenzo Citrus Lorenzo

Oranges Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville

orange, bigarade orange, or
Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville
orange, bigarade orange, or
Citrus × aurantium marmalade orange is (sensu marmalade orange is (sensu
stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × stricto) the citrus tree Citrus ×
aurantium and its fruit. It is native to aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been Southeast Asia and has been
spread by humans to many parts of spread by humans to many parts of
the world. the world.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange
is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange, bigarade orange, or marmalade orange
is (sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by humans to many parts of the world.
Citrus Lorenzo Citrus Lorenzo
Typography basics 38

Modular Grids
Modular grid provides unparalleled customizability for your projects through
its modular blocks. Here is an example of its use.

Oranges
2024

Citrus × aurantium

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange,

bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is
(sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium
and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and
has been spread by humans to many parts of
the world.

All citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to the As of 1987, orange

single genus Citrus, and remain almost entirely trees were found to
interfertile. This includes grapefruits, lemons, be the most
limes, oranges, and various other types and cultivated fruit tree in
hybrids. As the interfertility of oranges and other the world.
citrus has produced numerous hybrids.

Citrus Lorenzo Citrus Lorenzo

This makes the This makes the This makes the This makes the
orange more tender orange more tender orange more tender orange more tender
and juicy and juicy and juicy and juicy

Oranges
2024

Citrus × aurantium

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange,

bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is
(sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus × aurantium
and its fruit. It is native to Southeast Asia and
has been spread by humans to many parts of
the world.

All citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to the As of 1987, orange

single genus Citrus, and remain almost entirely trees were found to
interfertile. This includes grapefruits, lemons, be the most
limes, oranges, and various other types and cultivated fruit tree in
hybrids. As the interfertility of oranges and other the world.
citrus has produced numerous hybrids.

Citrus lorenzo Citrus reticulata

This makes the This makes the This makes the This makes the
orange more tender orange more tender orange more tender orange more tender
and juicy and juicy and juicy and juicy
Typography basics 39

Manuscript Grids
This grid determines text placement on a page, traditional books employ a mirrored manuscript
grid for maintaining symmetry on facing pages. Here is an example of its use.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange,

bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is
(sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus ×
aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by
humans to many parts of the world. All
citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to
the single genus Citrus, and remain
almost entirely interfertile. This includes
grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, and
various other types and hybrids. As the
interfertility of oranges and other citrus
has produced numerous hybrids. As of
1987, orange trees were found to be the
most cultivated fruit tree in the world.

Bitter orange, sour orange, Seville orange,

bigarade orange, or marmalade orange is
(sensu stricto) the citrus tree Citrus ×
aurantium and its fruit. It is native to
Southeast Asia and has been spread by
humans to many parts of the world. All
citrus trees are angiosperms, belong to
the single genus Citrus, and remain
almost entirely interfertile. This includes
grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, and
various other types and hybrids. As the
interfertility of oranges and other citrus
has produced numerous hybrids. As of
1987, orange trees were found to be the
most cultivated fruit tree in the world.
Typography basics 40

Grid tips
Here are some tips when working with grids.

Leave the gutters alone

Keep gutters blank to separate design
components. Text and other media elements
can span columns, modules, or rows but
must not start or end in the gutter.

Get creative with grids

Sometimes, the grid you desire doesn't
exist, but that doesn't mean you can't
create one by combining existing ones.
 41

Typography tips
In this chapter, we will explore the topic of font selection and pairing. You will
learn how to avoid fonts that are unsuitable for your design and how to
match fonts that work well together. You will also practice your typography
skills with some exercises and get some useful tips and tricks along the way.
Typography tips 42

Fonts to avoid
Avoid these fonts if you are an amateur designer, as they are mocked
by most other designers. Some of them may not be that terrible, but
they are way overused.

Comic sans Papyrus

This is the most notorious font that A gimmicky font that tries to evoke
everyone instinctively hates. an ancient and unique feel.

Impact Trajan
Mostly used in memes with white Overused in big movie and tv
fill and black stroke. production designs.

Arial Hobo
Rounder, softer, and less The font was nameless so long
interesting Helvetica. they called it hobo.

Lobster Jokerman
Overused in logos, headlines, and It is too chaotic and too specific for
many other things. any design work.
Typography tips 43

Tips and tricks

Here are some tips and tricks for improving your typography, such as
choosing the right font, keeping the type untouched, and limiting the number
of fonts in your design.

Very bad
Feel the type
Typefaces have certain feelings
attached to them, some can feel
fancy, and some playful. Try to match
them to your design goals.

Friendly
WHY? Sniglet Font

IMPORTANT
Castoro Titling Font

not good
Retro
Press Start 2P Font
Don’t skew or transform
the typeface
Unless you have mastered the Modern
typography craft fully don’t even think
Space Grotesk Font
of destroying that beautiful typeface.

There Don’t mix too many fonts

Are Too Many Use no more than two or three

FONTS
typefaces in your design. Fonts can
clash or compete with each other, so
try to maintain harmony.
Typography tips 44

Tips and tricks

Here are some tips for understanding the importance of white space and
leading on a colorful background

Example text Example text

that means nothing
that means nothing
This is a placeholder text block
This is a placeholder text block whose purpose is whose purpose is only to show how it
only to show how it looks in different situations looks in different situations when
when working with typography working with typography

Bad example Good example

White space
White space is the area around and between text. It
adds contrast, balance, hierarchy, and legibility. It can
imply elegance, simplicity, or sophistication. White
space is powerful and useful.

This is a placeholder text This is a placeholder text

block whose purpose is only block whose purpose is only
to show how it looks in to show how it looks in
different situations when different situations when
working with typography working with typography

Text leading on color

You should increase the leading when the text
is on a colorful background to make it more
readable and comfortable for the eyes.
Typography tips 45

Font pairing
Font pairing is the creative process of combining different fonts in a design
to create a visually appealing and harmonious composition. It is essential to
select fonts that complement each other and work well together.

Font pairing
by category
One way to pair fonts is to experiment with combining different font
types with each other to find the perfect combination for your design.
It’s important to consider the visual contrast between the fonts, as well
as their readability and legibility when used together.

SERIFS AND SANS SERIFS SANS SERIFS AND SERIFS

Soria and DM Sans Font Oswald and Petrona Font

Main text Main text

Secondary text Secondary text

DISPLAY AND SANS SERIFS DISPLAY AND SERIFS

Rakkas and REM Font Basteleur and Latitude Font

Main text
Secondary text
Main text
Secondary text

SCRIPT AND SANS SERIFS SCRIPT AND SERIFS

Louise and Work Sans Font Parisienne and Zilla Slab Font

Main text Main text

Secondary text Secondary text
Typography tips 46

Font pairing
One of the key considerations when pairing fonts is their x-height,
which is the distance between the baseline and the mean line of
lowercase letters in a typeface.

Font pairing
by x-height
Often, two fonts with a similar x-height will pair well. It’s
important to note that x-height is just one of several
factors to consider when pairing fonts.

Pairs good

x-height x-height x-height

Archivo, 30pt Font Playfair Display, 30pt Font Roboto Slab, 30pt Font

Pairs good

x-height x-height x-height

Montserrat, 30pt Font Domine, 30pt Font Lato, 30pt Font

Pairs bad

x-height X-HEIGHT x-height

Cabin, 30pt Font Castoro Titling, 30pt Font Marmelad, 30pt Font
Typography tips 47

Excersices
These typography exercises are designed to provide you with a
comprehensive understanding of the concepts I discussed in
the previous pages.

Your Sketch a font

Grab a piece of paper and a pencil
then sketch out some display or script

font fonts to give you a better

understanding of typefaces.

KER N
T his
And
That
Play with text
compositions Kerning practice
By experimenting with different text Open up your Design software and
compositions, you will gain a deeper write some random stuff with
appreciation for them. different typefaces and then try to
kern them properly.

Match the feeling

Create a mood board with images or
Royal
illustrations and match the feeling with
different headings and body typefaces. Here is the body text that
feels fancy and sophisticated
Typeface list 48

Typeface list
This is the complete list of all the typefaces I used and commented on in this
book. All of them can be used for personal and commercial purposes, so
feel free to use them in your design work.

Font types

• EB Garamond Font • Montserrat font

• Merriweather Font • Questrial font

• Domine font • Marmelad font

• Gentium Book Plus Font • Saint font

• Arvo font • Le Murmure font

• Bodoni Moda font • GTL001 font

• Wremena font • Tangerine font

• Archivo font • Borel font

• Inter font • League Script font

• Poppins font • IBM Plex Mono font

• Karla font • Geologica font

• DM Mono font

Typography basics

• Libre Baskerville font • Roboto serif font

• Roboto font • Rubik font

• Roboto condensed font • Instrument Serif font

• Roboto slab font • Nanum Myeongjo font

Typeface list 49

Typeface list

Typography basics

• Lora font • Lato font

• Open sans font • Golos Text font

• Rethink Sans font • Bricolage Grotesquefont

• Recursive font • Roboto flex font

• Raleway font • Noto serif display font

• Martel font

Typography tips

• Sniglet font • REM font

• Castoro Titling font • Basteleur font

• Press Start 2P font • Latitude font

• Space Grotesk font • Louise font

• Soria font • Work sans font

• DM Sans font • Parisienne font

• Oswald font • Zilla Slab font

• Petrona font • Playfair Display font

• Rakkas font • Domine font

• Cabin font
 50

Conclusion

I sincerely hope that this book has not only been a source of
enjoyment but also a valuable learning experience for you. When I set
out to create this book, my main goal was to offer the kind of guidance
that I, as a younger version of myself, would have eagerly welcomed
at the beginning of my design adventure. I remember going through
the learning process slowly, often stumbling through a series of
mistakes. Looking back, I'm convinced that having this knowledge
earlier would have saved me a lot of time.

Think of this book as a friendly guide, crafted to be a time-saving

buddy for your design journey. It's packed with essential insights
meant to help you dodge common pitfalls and grasp the subject
matter more comprehensively. By doing so, you'll be able to navigate
your design path with greater ease and confidence.

I truly appreciate your time spent with this book, and knowing that it
has brought you satisfaction gives me a great sense of fulfillment.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your learning journey.

- Konstantinas Ladauskas