BROJKE U TIPOGRAFIJI Numbers are often omitted from kerning ta- tabular figures, the individual figures will bles, but numbers often need more kerning not align in columns or lists, but columns than letters do. Most fonts, both metal and of figures can still be aligned. For much digital, are equipped with tabular figures tabular matter (e.g., the first table overleaf) - figures that all have identical setwidth, this is sufficient. If notes are required in a so columns of typeset figures will align. If table with flush-right columns, the super- you are forced to use such a font, heavy scripts should be hung to the right (as in kerning will be required. A good text font column 3, line 2 of the first example over- will give you proportional figures instead. leaf) so they will not disrupt the alignment. A digital font in the OpenType format may Despite their name, oldstyle figures have offer you four choices: proportional and many uses in modern typography. This tabular lining (titling) figures, and propor- elegant style of figure is pleasing – and tional and tabular old-style (text) figures. often preferred in running text. It is less No matter how the figures are cut, when intrusive than lining figures, allowing the used in text, they are likely to need some numerals to blend with the surrounding kerning, to each other and to the en dash. lowercase characters. Oldstyle figures The numerals in many fonts are all of also pair up nicely with small caps. equal width, though there is sometimes an The reason is that numerals have different alternative, narrower form of the numeral conventions than letters. They have more one. This fitted one is generally used when curves and some numerals have ample setting figures in the midst of text, while the white space to contend with. Take the letter unfitted one (of standard numeral width) is O. Depending on the font used, some peo- often used when setting figures in columns. ple may have difficulty discerning the letter The font itself or the composition software from the number zero. To deal with this pe- will also include a figure space - a fixed culiarity, designers can change the stroke of blank space corresponding to the width of a the number to give emphasis or take away standard, unkerned numeral. This makes it a attention from the number. When it comes simple matter to compose lists and columns to infographic design, headlines and lists, of figures in rigorous mechanical alignment. you’ll need to use numbers to convey the If you use proportionally fitted numerals information in a clear and understandable (always the best choice for text), or kern way. That means choosing the right font and the numeral permutations in a font with displaying the numbers in the right way. OLD STYLE FIGURES LINING FIGURES

Also called non-lining figures, these Arabic A modern style of numerals also known as numerals are not all the same height and short ranging figures or regular numerals, some extend above and others below the lining figures are all the same height and all baseline (like the ascenders and descenders figures sit on the baseline. They are general- on some lowercase letters). -Proportional ly the same height as the uppercase letters in Old Style Figures are attractive within a the typeface. paragraph of text because the varying Proportional Linin Figures work well height visually blends in with the ups and when used with proportional text set in all downs of mixed uppercase and lowercase caps because the numbers will all sit on the letters. They don’t work as well within baseline with the capital letters. Because text set in all caps. If you like the look, use the characters have varying widths they them in books, newsletters, and brochures. don’t work as well in columns of numbers. -Tabular Old Style Figures is an option when Tabular Lining Figures keep all your you like the look of figures with varying numbers lined up in tables and columns heights but you need the numbers to line while also lining up horizontally with up in columns such as in financial docu- capital letters and currency symbols. As ments, tables, charts, or numbered lists. with Tabular Old Style, these often don’t Because they are monospaced, tabular look as good at display sizes where lin- figures may not look as well in headlines ing up in columns is not needed. and other display text that includes num- bers. Instead of doing a lot of kerning to PROPORTIONAL TABULAR close up the extra space around a 1, for instance, go with proportional figures. With proportional Tabular figures are figures, each char- monospaced. Each acter may occupy a character takes up different amount of the same amount of horizontal space. A 1 horizontal space. takes up less space than a 5 or a 9.