Sunday 17 January 2010

Type 01: Anatomy of ITC Lubalin Graph Std

ITC Lubalin Graph Std is a 1970’s slab-serifed typeface where all ascenders are equal in height to the cap height and all lower case crossbars are equal to the x-height; as are all lower case head serifs. The construction of every letterform is consistently continuous, although deliberate points of transition can be found between the straight and curved strokes. The curves themselves are of a perfectly circular and continuous nature and all letterforms have been modelled with no contrast; thicks and thins are even. Likewise there is no axis of contrast. All upper case characters sit on the baseline with upright stems, except for obvious letters such as v, w, x and z. The upper case crossbar on the letter A is equal in height to that of the lower case E, whilst the bottom edge of the upper case G crossbar is equal to half the x-height; where the two stems intersect. Meanwhile the crossbars on the upper case E, F and H are all set slightly higher and sit on a plain equal in height to the upper edge of the upper case G crossbar. Overall the typeface is light in colour and the weights within the family are book and demi. Two key characters that stand out are both found within the upper case letterforms. The upper case R is distinctive in having an open counter where the bowl and upright stem do not meet. The upper case Q is distinctive for its oval-curved tail that contrasts against other curves within the family.

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