type is the single most used method of communication. Most people are not aware of this fact because type is usually doing its job by delivering and not distracting from the message. To continue to do that job digitally we must consider that the solution for a printed document is very different than the solution for a low resolution screen. These images may be derived from the same source but the final images seen are NOT the same thing. The rules and design decisions made for the printed high resolution images need to be keep separate from those of low resolution devices. A new set of rules needs to be adopted for these new devices.
Visual equality is not mathematical equality
The most important concept in type design is visual equality. It is the most used technique in designing letterforms. Type designers make very subtle changes to different letterforms to make them appear equal. They lighten vertical strokes when there are multiple strokes and make serifs different lengths to make them visually the same. Sidebearings, advance widths and stem weights are all examples of this balancing technique. The technique is to be used at the right time and should not be confused with poorly marked or aligned stems, badly spaced glyphs or inconsistent vertical and horizontal distances.
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