Pants you can try on, a car you can test-drive — but how do you really know what a typeface looks like before you buy it? Type specimens are the answer. Follow these tips on how to build your own specimen collection, and soon you’ll be able to find the perfect typeface, every time.

A mark, a yen, a buck or a pound – as the song says, money makes the world go ‘round. This was before the introduction of the euro, of course! Luckily, a variety of currency symbols are included with most fonts. Learn what they are and how to find them.

Typing two spaces after a period is a relic of the typewriter era that has hung around long past its sell-by date. Here’s how to make sure none of those double-space dinosaurs find their way into your typeset work.

When it’s time to emphasize a word or phrase, do you automatically reach for the font style menu? Boldface and italics are two of the most common techniques for lending emphasis to text, but these basic typographic tools are often used incorrectly.

A glossary of glyphs and characters by name.

Digital typesetting has revolutionized the way designers work. It’s quick, convenient, and customizable – but occasionally, it’s mysteriously quirky. Fortunately, the fixes are super-straightforward.

The first of its kind, this book addresses the rise in global awareness of Arab cultures and provides a framework for understanding and respect. Extensively illustrated with more than 200 examples of the best in contemporary Arabic typography and graphic design, Arabic for Designers is an authoritative guide for designers unfamiliar with Arabic script.

For a touch of elegance and visual flair, try swash characters. These highly decorative letters can add beauty and visual focus to a design when used correctly – but don’t fall into a common type novice’s trap!

Use the real thing. True-drawn small caps, that is. Learn how to use this typographically sophisticated feature in Adobe InDesign CS3 and QuarkXPress 7.

Typographic logo designs may require subtle modifications for different applications. It’s smart – and helpful – to work with your client early on to identify the range of sizes and media in which a logo will be used.