Two different questions,not related with Herb Lubalin spacing type or the type spacing of Herb Lubalin:
First. I'm an admirer of the work of Herb Lubalin but I can't find a book with writings and samples of his work. ¿What could you recommend?
Second. I don't know how to handle the finer aspects of type spacing such as kerning heads, spacing punctuation marks or using the hair, thin, third, quarter, n and m spaces. ¿Is there a book on the topic?
Héctor
He art directed this. Brilliant all the way through.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Eros-Magazine-1962-Complete-Set-of-4-Marilyn-Monroe-...
There is an excellent book about Lubalin, but it’s out of print and to get your hands on a copy you’ll need to either spend $100+ for it or find it in a library. You might want to check around with the design firms in Mexico City—the book was never that hard to come by when it was in print (it mostly sells for so much because used book dealer are being morons), so it’s a pretty common item in any older design library.
Gorgeous. I have a new reason to save for the next couple of months... I think I'm buying those Eros magazines as fast as I can.
¿What about type spacing?
Héctor
I always felt Herb Lubalin was set free on his spacing from the 1950s and the start up of the typositor. That was freedom from lead type. It allowed creative folks to place their letters where they wanted to - without using the knife.
I knew many designers from that era - and can even remember a few late night discussions of "letterspace tighter -- tighter -- tighter..." *
*It wasn't called "kerning" back then -
http://James Felici, Complete Manual of Typography has a fair amount on spaces. http://Finer Points in Spacing, by Geoffrey Dowdling is an influential book on this. And of course Bringhurst. I'm sure the German book Detailtypographie will also have good stuff, but I haven't got hold of it yet.
Hi Héctor!
Long time no see!
ChrisL
Hi Chris. I've been busy at work so I only read a few trheads a week and comment too little. I'm glad to see you are working on a new typeface, I'll be comenting on it soon.
Interesting Jackie, I knew some reflection would arise from this thread's topic.
I read on Amazon that the topics on Finer Points in the Spacing... were well covered on The Elements of Typographic.... Is it true? Is the book worth it? Who has read it?
Héctor
Yes, there is overlap between 'Finer Points' and 'Elements'--I'm sure Bringhurst knows Dowdling. Also I think Dowdling I think overdoes it on the tightness of word spacing. --The main point of the book is to combat overly loose word spacing, which was apparently common in the metal Linotype days, when the book was written.
However, it does go into more detail on a number of issues. It's a nice book, but not a 'must'.
Incidentally, http://Book Typography by Mitchell & Wightman is excellent and quite comprehensive on type setting for book design. It's a bit expensive, but does cover everything that Dowdling does, I think, and a lot more.
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