Type Scale
Generate a modular type scale from a base size and ratio. Click any row to copy its value. Runs in your browser — no server call, no tracking.
Settings
Scale
Kerning & Spacing
Kerning: Adjusting space between specific letter pairs (AV, To, We). Tracking: Uniform spacing across all characters. Leading: Vertical space between baselines. Good typography balances all three. Tight tracking for headlines, looser for body. Optical kerning often outperforms metric kerning at display sizes.
Font Families & Weights
Serif: Traditional, trusted (Times, Garamond). Sans-serif: Modern, clean (Helvetica, Inter). Mono: Technical, code (JetBrains, Fira). Display: Headlines only. Weights range from Thin (100) to Black (900). Format evolution: bitmap → PostScript → TrueType → OpenType → Variable fonts. Variable fonts contain all weights in one file.
Typeface vs. Font vs. Logotype
Typeface: The design family (Helvetica). Font: A specific instance (Helvetica Bold 12pt). Logotype: Brand name rendered as a unique typographic mark — often custom-drawn, not a standard font. Headlines, slogans, and brand wordmarks each have different typographic requirements for weight, spacing, and optical size.
Print, Digital & Industrial
Print: High DPI allows fine serifs and thin strokes. Screen: Hinting, subpixel rendering, and variable optical sizes matter. Industrial: Signage requires high x-height and open counters for distance legibility. Raster fonts (bitmap) for embedded systems; vector fonts (OTF/TTF) for everything else. Node-based letterforms enable wayfinding maps and urban typography systems.