Typography is the art and techniques of arranging type, type design, and modifying type glyphs. Type glyphs are created and modified using a variety of illustration techniques. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading (line spacing), letter-spacing (tracking) and kerning.

Typography is performed by typesetters, compositors, typographers, graphic artists, art directors, and clerical workers. Until the Digital Age, typography was a specialized occupation. Digitization opened up typography to new generations of visual designers and lay users.

History

For the origins and evolution of typography, see the main articles History of western typography, History of typography in East Asia, and Movable type.

Etymology: Typography (from the Greek words typos = "to strike" "That by which something is symbolized or figured …" and graphia = to write).

Typography traces its origins to the first punches and dies used to make seals and currency in ancient times. The first known movable type printing artifact is probably the Phaistos Disc, though its real purpose remains disputed. The item dates between 1850 BC and 1600 BC, back to Minoan age and is now on display at the archaeological museum of Herakleion in Crete, Greece.

Typography with movable type was separately invented in 11th-century China, and modular movable metal type began in 13th-century China, was developed again in mid-15th century Europe with the development of specialised techniques for casting and combining cheap copies of letterpunches in the vast quantities required to print multiple copies of texts.

Scope

In contemporary use, the practice and study of typography is very broad, covering all aspects of letter design and application. These include:

• typesetting and type design;
• handwriting and calligraphy;
• graffiti;
• inscriptional and architectural lettering;
• poster design and other large scale lettering such as signage and billboards;
• business communications and promotional collateral;
• advertising;
• wordmarks and typographic logos (logotypes);
• apparel (clothing);
• labels on maps;
• vehicle instrument panels;
• kinetic typography in motion picture films and television;
• as a component of industrial design—type on household appliances, pens and wristwatches, for example.
• and as a component in modern poetry (see, for example, the poetry of e. e. cummings)