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b
Bodoni
an inside look
Giambattista
Bodoni
Opposite
Above
The cover page for Giambattista Bodonis Typography Manual. The text on this page is of course,
set in the Bodoni typeface. Originally published
in 1818, this book contains hundreds of pages of
example type at different sizes, as well as borders
and patterns for use with the typeface.
Origins
Bodoni
Baskerville
Bodoni 35 pt.
Baskerville 35 pt.
Didot
Didot 35 pt.
M
Regular
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Book
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Book Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Bold
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Bold Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Condensed Bold
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Cond. B. Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Ultra Bold
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Black
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Black Italic
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
44
Bodoni
AnInside
InsideLook
Look
Bodoni
An
Opposite
Above
55
g
g
Characteristics
Bodoni created typefaces and typography
to impress the eye. His designs were studied
efforts meant to be seen as well as read. Few
people would deny that Bodonis typefaces
are beautiful; unfortunately, few would say
they are also easy to read. By current standards, his designs are, in fact, the antithesis
of what an easily readable typeface should
be. Had he known this fact, however, Bodoni
would probably not have been very upset.
His goal was not to create typography to be
appreciated by the masses. His books and
other printing exercises were large regal
efforts meant to be looked upon and appreciated as works of art, rather than as mere
pieces of communication.
Beatrice Warde, an eminent typographic
historian, in a famous essay, likened the
perfect type to a crystal goblet. Her perfect
type is transparent, or invisible, to the reader
and allows the content to be enjoyed without
coloration or distraction. Bodonis type is
anything but a crystal goblet. Its hairline
serifs, strong thick-and-thin stroke contrast,
ear
link
loop
ggggggg
Regular
Book
Book Italic
Bold
Bold Italic
Black
Ultra Bold
fy
pi
Bodoni
AnInside
InsideLook
Look
Bodoni
An
Bodoni
Typeface
serif
cap height
counter
shoulder
tittle
x-height
ascender
terminal
stem
descender
Above
Below
o d
Below
This capital W set at 400 pt. is unique in
its connection of the first two serifs, which
emphasizes the geometry of the Bodoni
typeface.
88
All Around
99
AA
Comparison
r
Bodoni
Right
Background
The capital letter A set in Bodoni (left), Baskerville (middle), and Didot (right). The contrast
between the thicks and thins of the letterforms,
as well as the differing styling of the serifs are
easily recognizable when they are blown up to
such large sizes.
Below
Q Q Q
Bodoni
10
Baskerville
Didot
r
Baskerville
Below
Didot
k k k
Bodoni
Baskerville
Didot
11
jjj
Ji
Bodoni
Baskerville
12
Didot
Bibliography
Images
http://luc.devroye.org/GiambattistaBodoni-ManualeTipografica-1818b.jpg
References
Colophon
http://igniteprovidence.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bodoni-portrait.jpg
http://xerinhx3.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/
gaga.jpeg
http://www.reviewstl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Mamma-Mia-Broadway-PosterLarge.jpg
http://www.musiclipse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/nirvana-logo-wallpaper.jpg
http://designtraveler.files.wordpress.
com/2010/11/sketches2.jpg?w=1960
http://celebmafia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/doutzen-kroes-vogue-magazine-turkey-march-2014-issue_1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/John_Baskerville_by_James_Millar.jpg
http://www.deborahfeller.com/news-andviews/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Girodet_M_Firmin_Didot.jpg
B
B