‘In typography there is no technical step which is not at the same time an aesthetic decision’ — Emil Ruder
Some teaching notes on digital typography. This is a sightly revised version of the previous document that was available here for download.
Since the advent of printing with movable type, typography and technology have become inseparable. If we are to accept the definition of typography as the mechanical production of written language, then we must have an intimate understanding of our prevailing typesetting technology – the computer and its software and output devices – in order to become competent typographic designers. There is craftsmanship involved in digital typesetting; creativity is also built upon the foundation of understanding the technology.