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Glossary D

Descender

The descender is division of a capital or lowercase letter that extends under the baseline. In roman typefaces, The letters that characteristically have descenders are g, j, p, q, y, Q, and sometimes J. In italics, f regularly has a descender. The old-fashioned numerals 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 also have descenders.

Descender line

A straight horizontal instruction representing where the lowest parts of lowercase descenders become visible to align. This descender line is often referred to in an imaginary sense.

Didot point

An element used to calculate type equivalent to .01483 inch (.376065 millimeter). The Didot point, which originated in France, is broadly used in continental Europe and is also referred as corps. 12 Didot points equal generation unit called a cicero.

Drawing size

The drawing size of a type designer's (is regularly hand-drawn) performance of a typeface.