Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
2-39
Spatial measurement
In addition to measuring type, the designer
also measures and specifies the spatial
intervals between typographic elements.
These intervals are: interletter spacing
(traditionally called letterspacing), which
is the interval between letters; interword
spacing, also called wordspacing, which is
the interval between words; and interline
spacing, which is the interval between two
lines of type. Traditionally, interline space
is called leading, because thin strips of lead
are placed between lines of metal type to
increase the spatial interval between them.
In traditional metal typography,
interletter and interword spacing are
achieved by inserting metal blocks called
quads between the pieces of type. Because
these are not as high as the type itself, they do
not print. A quad that is a square of the point
size is called an em . One that is one-half an
em quad is called an en . In metal type, other
smaller divisions of space are fractions of
the em (Fig. 2-39 ). These metal spacers are
used for letter- and wordspacing, paragraph
indentions, and centering or justifying lines
of type.
2-38
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