The Tribune

By DEIDRE M. BASTIAN DO YOU find yourself staring at another designer's logo and immediately trying to decipher what typeface or font they used? If you are a designer, it is probably an inevitable habit. However, there are no hard and fast rules to help determine which typeface you should use when designing. And due to the fact that we are showered with thousands of free fonts on the Internet, deciding on the ideal one can become a challenging task. But really, how important are fonts, and does knowing this stuff matter? Well, compared to world peace it does not, but choosing the right type of font to use on a website or print is essential. Many people do not even think about the importance of fonts when designing, but one should keep in mind that choosing the font family that best fits your document's purpose will yield a more professional and elegant finish. Why? Fonts on a computer screen are harder on the eyes than paper, because paper reflects light, while computer screens emit (release) light. Avoid using more than two font families, unless you are using the extra font as an accent character. For example, you may choose one family for headlines, another for the body type and a third for special characters, such as numbers in a list. But using too many font families in a document makes your work seem busy and unprofessional. Always ensure your fonts are interesting and current, with an optimal size. This means designers should make every effort to ease the strain and boost readability, as they do not want their audience reaching for eye drops. Critics have often asked: What is the difference between Fonts and Typeface, and if they are the same thing? Well, after being shot down by an overenthusiastic designer for referring to a typeface as a font, I can now agree the dynamics are different. You see, to a Joe Blow, a typeface and a font is the same thing, almost like agreeing that a gerbil and a hamster are the same because they are both small, furry caged pets. To a designer or developer, they are not the same thing. Being a little more meticulous and trained to look at the smallest details, a designer might say: A gerbil and hamster are completely opposite, as a hamster likes to live alone and seems to wake up when everyone else is asleep, while gerbils are smaller, more curious and appear happier in groups. In this same vein, fonts and typefaces are technically different, even though they relate to the same model. Let me clarify: The difference between a typeface and font is subtle but distinct. The word 'font' is commonly misused to mean typeface, but is actually more specific in appearance, style, pitch and size, using characters such as letters, numbers, symbols and punctuation marks. Moreover, a font is said to be a fixed pitch, but they are vector-based ( points, lines and curves), enabling them to be scaled very large but still retain sharp features. Accordingly, fonts are of one size, one style and one weight, such as Arial, Times New Roman and Helvetica. Whereas typefaces are usually specified with a designation, such as italic or bold. Bear with me, as I know these terminologies may seem a little complex, but principally typeface is simply the design of letters, numbers and symbols. For example: Font is what you use, and typeface is what you see. The simplest way I relate to their difference is by comparing them to songs and MP3s, respectively (or songs and CDs, if you prefer a physical metaphor). When you talk about how much you like a tune, you won't say: 'That's a great MP3 .' You would say: 'That's a great song.' The MP3 is the delivery mechanism, not the creative work, just as in type a font is the delivery mechanism and a typeface is the creative work. (Hope this helps). We can also think of a typeface as the design to a type family. For example, every family has surnames such as Rolle or Smith, which are a type family or a typeface. Yet it is not considered a font but a family type design. However, you may wish to play around with different, unique fonts to better complement your Web Pages, signs, cards or stationary, and add new fonts to your system. But even though fonts can be very expensive there is a huge resource on the Internet that offers free fonts called Dafont (http://www.dafont.com). To explore this site, copy and paste these websites individually into your URL window to assist with downloading fonts. HTTP://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE-U9UgQiRo or http://cutiephryme.tumblr.com/post/4517055193/how-to-install-fonts-from-dafont-com Indeed, you may experience challenges that cause your computer to run slower, especially if you do not have adequate memory. However, if you plan to install extra fonts, try deleting those that are not in use. Also, when you install new fonts, remember that each will only work with the computer you've installed it on. New fonts installed on your computer might not be displayed the same way on another computer. Be that as it may, in some circles fonts and typefaces are used interchangeably with endless possibilities, but it is still important to know the difference. Moreover, next time you stumble upon a designer who uses every opportunity to correct you on design-related jargon, just use this typography information to counter their attacks, using your new-found knowledge of typeface and font. A great rule of thumb for beginning presentation designers is to put lots of thought into your font styles, and think like a designer. So, until we meet again, fill your life with memories as opposed to regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game. NB: Columnist welcomes feedback at deedee2111@hotmail.com About the Columnist: Ms Bastian is an extensively trained graphic designer who has qualifications of M.Sc., B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of the Bahamas, Nova Southeastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas. READERS FEEDBACK: Hi Deedee, Just want to let you know that I always read your column in the Tribune newspaper, and it is always encouraging and very informative. I opened a store a few months ago and I'm looking for the best way to advertise my store. Of course, as a small business person I need effective advertisement and to watch costs. Do you have any advice? I'm thinking about a newspaper classified trader ad or maybe starting up an online business. I'm just not sure how effective this online would be. Thanks Bits- Bahamas Ink and Toner Solutions