470820@UOTTAWA.BITNET (Neil Duffee) (02/02/90)
sorry Michael; no go. There is a very distinct difference in measurement
between the two and they are actually inverse relations to each other.
Pitch is a measure of the number of characters that can be placed in
one inch. ie. 12 pitch = 12 characters horizontally within 1 inch
and is smaller in size than 10 pitch (less characters - more space)
Points - or rather, Picas and Points - are an actual measure of length
such that 12 points make 1 pica and there are approx 6 picas in 1 inch.
I say approx. since i have been informed that there are actually
72.01nnn (or was that 72.10nnn) points in 1 inch. The decimals are
essentially insignificant for 90% of applications and most people
will say that 72 points make 1 inch.
However, when referring to type size, picas/points are measured vertically.
Hence, the larger the point size, the larger the type contrasting with
the larger the pitch size, the smaller the type.
Picas/points - and Ciceros, for that matter - are measurements from
the printing industry. As a result, they are rather old (as things go)
and some would say archaic however, just walk in to any printing shop
anywhere (probably in the world for that matter) and they'll know what
you mean by 10pt type. Pitch, on the other hand, I've only heard
in reference to typewriters (and now computer printers as CPI or
'characters per inch') which may have been a measurement invented for them.
Who knows?
Hope this helps.
---------------------> original message <------------------
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 90 09:16:23 EST
From: Michael Stoner <MSTONER@PUCC.BITNET>
Subject: Re: Forms design - typewriter measurements
Re: the relationship of "pitch" and "point." 12 pitch=12 points; 10 pitch=
10 points. For correct spacing, set your leading at 12 points; the type
you insert can be smaller (10/12) as long as your leading is equal.
---------------> signature = 8 lines follows <-------------------
Neil Duffee
Joe Programmer, U. of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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'If you really wanted an opinion, you'd have submitted a request.'SOFPJF@UOGUELPH.BITNET (Peter Jaspers-Fayer) (02/03/90)
Below is from 1986 DataPro Research pub EP10-020-138, Concepts & Issues
a "Databook report on Electronic Publishing Systems" (v1), McGraw Hill.
Call Datapro for reprints of one article: 1-800-328-2776
Not a direct quote, and I'm famous for my typos:
First...
American-British System: pica=.166 inch, and .01383 inch points
Diodot system: 1 cicero=12 corps=.178 inch, and .01483 inch points
Mediann system (Belgium): .165 inch ciceros, .01374 inch points
later...
"6 picas/inch, 12 points/pica, 72 points/inch - but not quite, as
30 picas are 4.98 inches..." bla blah ad nauseum
and yet more...
CPP's (Characters per Pica), eg Helvetica 10pt has a CPP of 2.5
It says that:
Much of Europe is going to metric measurements now.
Gee, and I'm Canadian (supposedly metric, eh?) and never seen 'em.
But it can't be any worse'n this mess!
One that was NOT in the above book...
And then you have 'pels', fer cryin' out loud. Saw that in some turkey
(no not turnkey ;-) YAWP (Yet Another Word Processor) that some student
dragged in. So what the H*ll is a pel, yet? -- Sheesh
/PJ SofPJF@VM.UoGuelph.Ca
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