r/letteringnottype

60 archived posts · Feb 2016 – Nov 2019

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Lettering, Not Type

r/letteringnottype

Lettering, Not Type

Created Feb 4, 2016 · restricted

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60Archived posts

Welcome to Lettering, Not Type.

But why?

The term “typography” has become a buzzword used to describe all things letter-related. The dumbing-down of terminology goes hand in hand with popular interest, and – propogated through design communities – muddles the distinction between entirely different crafts that require entirely different skills. You wouldn’t hire a plumber to do your electrical work.

But the portfolios of my favourite designers are full of logotypes labelled “typography”.

Typography is the mechanical production of text using prefabricated letters. Much like how a photographer uses a camera to take pictures, a typographer uses typefaces (prefabricated letters) to typeset text. Lettering does not fall under the definition of typography, because the letters are not prefabricated – they are made, or adapted, for one specific occasion.

So, what is lettering?

Lettering is letter drawing separate from the system imposed by typefaces. Whereas a typeface is a system of shapes that can combine in any permutation, lettering does not have this limitation. Because lettering is static, letterforms in a lettering piece can adapt to and interact with surrounding shapes. Lettering can be executed by hand – with a brush, a pen, or any other physical tool. Lettering can also be digital – by flattening and manipulating the letterforms of an existing typeface, or by drawing entirely new letterforms from scratch. Lettering may include:

Sign lettering
Logotypes and wordmarks (manipulating existing, or drawing new, letterforms)
Illustrative letterforms
Standalone letterforms
Grafitti
Writing and calligraphy (although these are even more specific)

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