1. Classification and Measurement Six Categories of Type Structure Tens of thousands of typefaces are available to digital designers— how can you keep track of them all? It helps if you learn to recognize larger categories of type that share common characteristics.

2. Category of type

8. Type Units The unit called point=1/72 inch 12 points=1 pica 6 picas=1 inch

9. It’s difficult to predict how large type will look from its point size because type is measured by its body height.

10. All of these samples are the same point size, but Helvetica looks much larger than the others because of its greater x-height. Compare the width of the other letters to Helvetica, too.

11. The conventional notation is to list the number of picas first, then a “ p, ” then the points. This would read “ 3 picas, 2.5 points. ” It would equal 20.5 pt. or about 0.285".

12. Type Specification