Chapter 2
Physical Attributes of Type
End of Chapter Review Answers
1. Name five types of typographic guidelines associated with letterforms.
Ascender line, baseline, cap height, descender line, x-height
2. What is an ascender? What is a descender?
3. What is the difference between a stem stroke and a hairline stroke?
4. What is a counter?
5. What is a serif?
6. What does sans serif mean?
7. What special strokes are particular to the capital letter G and lowercase letter g?
8. What are the structural elements of letterforms?
All letters are built using strokes combined with counterforms, using a specific angle of stress and level of
contrast, and with consistent treatment of terminals and serifs (when applicable).
Name each structural element and explain what it is.
Strokes and counterforms:
Arm: a secondary stroke, extending from a stem stroke and ending freely.
9. How is the point size of a typeface measured?
10. How many points are in an inch? 72 points/inch