LetterForge
The Journal
How to Pair Fonts Like a Professional
A practical method for pairing typefaces by classification and contrast, with real, freely available examples for headings and body text.
Understanding X-Height and Vertical Rhythm
Why the same font size can look completely different across typefaces, and how x-height shapes legibility, leading, and the vertical rhythm of a page.
Tracking vs. Kerning: What's the Difference?
Tracking and kerning both adjust the space between letters, but they solve different problems. Here's how to tell them apart and when to use each.
Building a Modular Type Scale for Posters
How to derive every font size in a poster or layout from a single base size and ratio, instead of guessing at each level of the hierarchy separately.
Choosing a Pen Angle for Broad-Edge Calligraphy
The single adjustment that defines a calligraphic hand's character: how the angle you hold a broad-edge nib at determines where thick and thin strokes fall.
What Is a Baseline Grid, and Why Do Designers Use One?
A baseline grid keeps every text element on a page in vertical rhythm. Here's what it is, why it matters for multi-column layouts, and how to set one up.
Anatomy of a Letterform: Serifs, Terminals, and Counters
A guided tour of the parts that make up a single letter, and why knowing their names sharpens how you look at type and lettering.