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Common Calligraphy Terms
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Ascender
The part of a lowercase letter that extends above the main body of the letter (above the x-height).
Baseline
The line on which the letters sit.
Counter
The open space in a fully or partly closed area within a letter.
Descender
The part of a lowercase letter that extends below the baseline.
Ductus
The series of strokes that make up a letter, including their direction, sequence, and pressure used.
Flourish
Decorative elements added to letters or writing, typically extending from the main forms.
Kerning
The adjustment of space between pairs of letters to create a visually pleasing result.
Ligature
The combination of two or more letters into a single glyph.
Majuscule
Another term for uppercase letters.
Minuscule
Another term for lowercase letters.
Pen angle
The angle at which the pen is held to the writing surface, affecting the shape and thickness of the lines.
Serif
A small line or stroke regularly attached to the end of a larger stroke in a letter or symbol.
Swash
A fancy flourish replacing or attached to a letterform, often at the beginning or end of a word.
X-height
The height of the main body of lowercase letters, such as 'x', excluding ascenders and descenders.
Weight
The thickness of a stroke within a letter, impacting how light or bold a typeface looks.
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