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Elements of Typography
Date Added: February 03, 2010 01:59:59 PM
Author: Tal Cohen
Category: Computers & Internet: World Wide Web: Site Development

Most online surfers don’t read texts in a linear fashion. Instead their eyes will jump from one point on the page to another. This change in reading habits means a change in the graphics of typography. Web designers will use typographic contrast by emphasizing certain texts over others. Here are several methods to create this contrast and lead your reader’s eye: 1. Size The larger the font, the more conspicuous it is. Larger fonts indicate a higher priority and this is usually used for headings. However, if all your texts are large, the effect is dissolved. Remember, this is all about creating contrast. 2. Typeface – Font Classification Contrast is also achieved by mixing up different fonts. Using one font for the headers and another for body text. However, there are a limited number of web safe fonts so only two main classifications are commonly used. These are serif and sans-serif. Usually, I would use the serif font for the headers and the sans-serif for the body text, but you are more than welcome to play around with it and get creative. 3. Coloring Colors are also a great way of creating a contrast. Once again, it is the minimalistic use that achieves the greatest effect. On the net, colors are a common way to distinguish between navigational elements, headers, links and regular body texts. Colors are also used to indicate stages of usability. For example, a faded color will mean that an element is disabled, a warning would be red. These color statements have already been embedded in our subconscious online culture so it would be silly to try to reinvent things at this point. 4. Casing Uppercase writing usually grabs more attention than lower case characters, making it better for headers and titles. DO NOT USE UPPER CASE LETTERS FOR LONG SENTENCES IT IS INCREDIBLY ANNOYING AND CUMBERSOME ON THE EYES. See what I mean? 5. Styles & Decorations Many newcomers to the world of web design will use underline for example to emphasize texts. That is definitely a rookie mistake, as underlined text will often be mistaken for a link because browsers will underline links by default. Instead of underlining the text, why don’t you use italics or even bold text?This is a great eye-catcher but don’t overdo it. Remember: Contrast is what we’re aiming for! 6. Space Space is the most important element in creating and maintaining the flow and fluidity of your web design. Creating ‘negative’ space around a header attracts the eye in the most elegant and sub-conscious manner. By using spacing professionally you can control the reader’s reading experience to the dot. Tell the reader where to start reading, where and when to pause, where the paragraph ends, what’s important and what’s cheap and a lot more. There are various different ways of creating space in your free website templates web design. • Block Breaks – this is the spacing between block elements. These spaces are either in the padding or margins. • Paragraph Breaks – spacing created directing after a paragraph element. • Tracking – letter spacing is the space between the ‘letters’ or ‘characters’… depends how you want to call them. • Leading – this is the line-height space. The space in between the lines. One of the most important spaces possible. There’s a reason your English teacher always forced you to double space. • Indentation – Indentation spaces are usually used for block quotes and list elements. Now that you’ve developed an amazing awareness to typography and typographical elements, take your new free website templates and start implementing what you’ve learned. Combine them and enjoy the results! For More Information Please visit: http://www.globaltemplates.com
 
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