Fonts 101
Font 101 – Episode Summary
In this in-depth and lively episode of The Print University, Pat McGrew and Ryan McAbee unpack everything you need to know about fonts—from history and classification to licensing and legal risks. A must-watch for printing technician certification online, prepress automation training (Kodak Prinergy, Esko), and printing industry training programs for new employees, this episode ensures everyone in a print shop—from CSR to prepress—understands the importance of font literacy.
The hosts break down font basics: the difference between typeface, font family, and individual font files, as well as font anatomy (x-height, leading, kerning, cap height, and more). You’ll explore font categories like serif, sans serif, pseudo sans serif, monospace, script, and decorative—and learn when and why each is used.
Crucially, the episode emphasizes font licensing and legal risks. Fonts are intellectual property, licensed just like stock photography or software. The hosts cover how foundries like Monotype and Adobe control rights, how legacy fonts from Xerox and IBM still appear in transactional workflows, and how to avoid costly mistakes from unlicensed or “free” fonts.
Whether you’re designing print layouts, managing customer files, or onboarding new staff, understanding fonts is essential to quality, compliance, and brand integrity.
You Will Learn:
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The difference between fonts, typefaces, and font families
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Font anatomy: x-height, leading, kerning, baseline, stroke, and spacing
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Font licensing risks and the role of major foundries (Monotype, Adobe, etc.)
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Legacy fonts in transactional print and how to manage them
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How to safely select, use, and verify commercial fonts in print workflows
Who This Course Is For:
Prepress professionals, CSRs, designers, production managers, and anyone seeking printing technician certification online, prepress automation training, or onboarding support for printing industry training programs for new employees
Time to Watch:
Approx. 35 minutes