-=®=- I’m hoping someone today could give me an opinion. sorry to seem pushy, but enquiring minds want to know... If you were in receipt of a scientific report on legibility and the only typographic reference cited was The Thames Hudson Manual of Typography, would that tell you anything? I am not familiar with the book.

...would that tell you anything?

Perhaps, but what of the typography of the report itself?

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fugedaboudit. it sucks.

(editing out now unintelligible remark based on April 1 Typophile strangeness.)

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the thing about such reports is that the people who they are written for won’t know good typography or why it matters if it hits them on the head.

... Not their fault. They may know things I don’t, which could even be why they make more money than me. :-)

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Russell, I purchased this book back in the mid-90s, for my first book design project, and it was very helpful. Even though some of the information in the book might be considered outdated nowadays, the chapters on book design, the parts of a book, paper, lettering, calligraphy, and printing are all useful. And I, for one, think that even the “outdated” parts are still useful, the same way that I find it useful to know where terms like leading come from.

[EDIT] P.S.: Bear in mind that the book’s author, Ruari McLean, was British, so you’ll encounter terms like “jobbing” throughout the text.

Thanks

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One of the best books on typography around, despite its being now extremely dated. The fundamentals don’t change, and Ruari McLean did a very good job of outlining the essentials of the profession.

I have the book, and I loved it. A good read for those interested in how they did things the good, old-fashioned way.

And I second the comment about designing for books.

Hey Ricardo, “jobbing” may be outdated, but it’s not a Britishism. It was used quite frequently on this side of the pond also.

Thanks, Kent — good to know.

(I won’t edit my comment to avoid changing the order of the thread.)

Jobbing is more a term from an older era so you can say old farts like me are more likely to know it than GenX no-matter which side of the pond they plunked their froggy :-)

ChrisL

This only goes to prove that, unlike froggies, “old farts” should never, ever croak. :-)

Unless Ricardo makes us die laughing :-)

ChrisL

plunked their froggy is this an oblique reference to ’Andy’s Gang’? As in, “Froggy, pluck your magic twanger.”

RE: the book. Good clean result of a long train of traditional practice. However, it does strike me that the observations about style of letter express the insular point of view of typographic tradition developed by the English after World War II. Valid opinions but not exclusively correct.

”...is this an oblique reference to ’Andy’s Gang’? As in, “Froggy, pluck your magic twanger.””

Yes! It certainly is! Charles, you have given away your age! :-)

You must be a bit younger than me or you would have called it “Smillin” Ed’s Gang” instead of Andy but you are not a young dude by any means :-)

ChrisL

and it is actually “plunk” instead of “Pluck”.

ChrisL

PS: Along those lines, this may appeal to you Mr. Leonard:

http://typophile.com/froggy

Along those lines, this may appeal to you Mr. Leonard

“Nice.”

Thanks for the clarification on the twanger verb.

Man o man - Talk about strayin’ from the topic! ;-)

How is the book as a reference for typography on signage?

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The book’s primary focus is books. It doesn’t seem to mention signs at all.

“reference for typography on signage”

It isn’t, Russ. There is some real research on signage. Perhaps Mr Montalbano can give you a better source for signage?

ChrisL

... It doesn’t seem to mention signs at all.

Well, well, well.

I have a copy on order at the library & look forward to reading it.

thanks everyone.

Chris, yeah,I know... I’m quite familiar with ClearviewHWY. I am questioning the qualifications of certain organizations that to conduct legibility testing of typefaces. It’s a long story. Very boring too.

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Sorry to be so obtuse, Russ. I was referring to James Montalbano who has done quite a bit of work in signage and might be a good person to suggest a book that would help you with a signage project.

ChrisL

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/magazine/12fonts-t.html?ref=magazine&p...

http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=1452

http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/53061/page......

Sorry, Russ, my edit popped my post out of order.

Some time, over a cold amber foamy liquid, you can tell me your long, boring tale. :-)

ChrisL

dezcome be obtuse? Can’t happen, dude.

I’ll email the boring tale to you. Contact address on your web site OK?

Actually I look forward to dining out on this thing for some time once it’s settled.

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How is the book as a reference for typography on signage?

Hey, Russell, have a look at the first three titles in this Amazon search.

Sure, Russ, that will work.

ChrisL