Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!UOTTAWA!470820 From: 470820@UOTTAWA.BITNET (Neil Duffee) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pagemakr Subject: Pitch vs. Pica/Points re-visited. Message-ID: Date: 2 Feb 90 14:58:23 GMT Sender: PageMaker for Desktop Publishers Reply-To: PageMaker for Desktop Publishers Lines: 46 Approved: NETNEWS@PSUVM Gateway 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 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 BITNET: NJD2E@UOTTAWA .CA DOMAIN: njd2e@acadvm1.uottawa.ca (requires MX records) or: njd2e%acadvm1.uottawa.ca@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca (explicit route) INTERNET: see above UUCP: gatech!utai!uottawa.bitnet!njd2e COMPU$ERVE: >INET:njd2e@acadvm1.uottawa.ca 'If you really wanted an opinion, you'd have submitted a request.'