Parameters

These are the parameters which you can expect from TypeCooker. Items listed in gray blocks will show up, but can be ignored if you don't know what they mean.

1 Construction

This refers to how the letters are drawn, which strokes go where. Capitals and romans use separate strokes. In italic construction most strokes in a letter are connected. Take a look at the proportions. How large are your capitals? Look up roman, italic and capital construction.

• roman
• italic
• caps and small caps
• capitals with roman
• capitals with italic
• continuous script
• casual brush script
• nothing

2 Ascender

This is the amount of space letters take up above the x-height. Some lowercase roman and italic letters have ascenders. The size of capitals can be related to the ascender height, but it is not required.

• longer than normal
• shorter than normal
• much shorter than normal
• none at all
• doesn’t matter

3 Descender

This is the amount of space letters take up below the baseline.

• longer than normal
• shorter than normal
• much shorter than normal
• none at all
• doesn’t matter

4 Width

This is the amount of accumulated space letters take up in horizontal direction. Narrow letters allow more words on a line than wide letters. The differences between narrow, normal and wide letters can be substantial.

• compressed
• condensed
• narrow
• normal
• extended
• wide
• very wide
• extremely wide

5 Contrast type

This refers to the way weight is distributed along a stroke: which parts are thick, which are thin, and how the transition between then two takes place. A broad nib pen has different characteristics than a pointed nib. There are also intermediate values possible.

• broad nib
• pointed nib
• transitional
• speedball nib
• brush
• can’t be determined

6 Contrast amount

This refers to the actual difference between thick and thin in a letter. What's the thickest part? what's the thinnest? How is the transition between one and the other? Note: the amount of contrast is related to the weight of a letter, but still a separate parameter. It is possible to have a low contrast and a high contrast letter which are both heavy.

• inverted contrast
• slightly inverted contrast
• no contrast at all (thick equals thin)
• no visible contrast
• very low contrast
• low contrast
• some contrast
• visible contrast
• quite some contrast
• a lot of contrast
• high contrast
• very high contrast
• extreme contrast

7 Stems

Vertical and horizontal strokes can have a slight ductus, a subtle reduction of weight towards the middle of the stroke. This to make the stroke a bit sharper, and reduce some of the weight.

• straight
• some ductus
• not a single straight line
• not a single straight angle
• flared

8 Stroke endings

A serif can grow on the end of a stroke. Or not. Or just sometimes. Note: there is some logic to the placement of serifs.

• straight, no serif
• rounded, no serif
• wedge shaped serifs
• slab shaped serifs
• some serifs here and there
• only serifs at the top end
• only serifs at the bottom end

9 Stroke weight

This is how fat or light a stroke can get. Related to contrast amount and contrast type, weight determines the amount of color required in a letter.

• hairline
• very thin
• thin
• extra light
• light
• book
• plain
• medium
• semi bold
• bold
• extra bold
• black
• heavy

10 Intended application

To make things more interesting, these are some parameters which can have effects on all other parameters. Think of these requirements and how they woulf affect the design as it is.

• unknown
• multi-purpose
• newsprint
• smooth offset printing
• engraving
• signage
• packaging
• subtitles on television
• anti-aliased bitmaps
• rubber stamping

11 Intended size

The intended size can be big effects on the contrast, weight and spacing.

• use very small
• reading sizes
• display sizes
• very large sizes

12 Special

A couple of less usual parameters for extra points.

• only straight lines
• octagonal construction
• rough contours
• casual
• sketchy appearance
• cut as stencil without drop-out counters
• must contain at least 1 ligature
• must contain at least 2 ligatures
• initial and terminal swash variations