A Lesson in Kerning

SARAH

  {right: kerned; left: not so much.}

So, I spent the better part of my afternoon printing with my shiny new silver ink on kraft chipboard.  I have had this idea in my head for so long {think the minute Christmas was over last year} that it felt so good to get it out.  That is, until biggest fan / greatest critic walked into my studio. 

R: The "Y" is bothering me.  I don't like it.  {note: I might be paraphrasing here}.
Me: Okay.
R:  It doesn't look like it is a part of "Merry."
Me: Okaaay. 

Clearly I am annoyed.  1.  I just spent a lot of time printing a lot of postcards.  2.  He is right.  Damn, he is RIGHT!  It is all I could see.  But this was not my fault.  Blame the century-old, wonky wood type.  So what next? 

Away R goes to my giant cabinet of lead type & spacers.  He finds the exact size I need to properly lock the type into the chase & proceeds to space each letter from the other as he sees fit & proportionally correct based upon the space between the "R" & "Y".  Thus he begins his first lesson in kerning.  Now, I am no font/typography geek.  Far from it.  I design something until it is pleasing to my eye.  I have never taken a typography class, though I certainly appreciate a well-designed font.  I recently had a client {a book designer herself} who gently pointed out my not-so-great eye for tracking & it really challenged me, but I was up for it.  

Now, Mr. Attorney-by-day-Typographer-by-night had questioned my kerning skills.  After teaching him how to lock the type & furniture in place, we proceed to print his {well} kerned version.  Damn.  So much better than mine.  I will use them both & print the missing "and" on there in red ink.  Though R suggests a "shimmery blue."  We shall see.  I am off on my MERR Y way now...

    

Comments

[Rich]

ha!

[Debra]

haha! dont you hate it when the critics are outside of the industry? lol. however, you can send some non-kerned Merry and brights to me...i wont judge!....but i do like the blue idea...