Lynda.COM Web Fonts First Look

Author:
James Williamson

Duration:
03h 16m

Released on:
1/12/2011

Exercise files:
Yes

Software works on:
Windows only


For this installment of the First Look series, James Williamson reviews the current implementation and future direction of web fonts: downloadable font resources that can be retrieved with the CSS @font-face declaration. The course begins with the evolution of online typography and current CSS font capabilities, and then dives into the W3C CSS Fonts Module specification, showing how to utilize web fonts, ensure cross-browser consistency, and how to use CSS3 to enhance the styling of web fonts. Font hosting services and tools such as TypeKit and the Google Fonts API are demonstrated. Exercise files accompany the course.
Topics include:

    What are web fonts?
    Understanding the font stack
    Using @font-face
    Rendering basics
    Choosing a font hosting service
    Downloading licensed fonts
    Generating web fonts
    Font sizing
    Transforming text
    Creating special effects with text shadows




Introduction
Welcome           00m 58s
Prerequisites for this course           01m 28s
Using the exercise files           01m 52s

1. The Current State of Online Typography
Showcase of web fonts in action           03m 21s
The evolution of online typography           04m 11s
CSS font capabilities           13m 00s
Understanding the font stack           06m 07s
Current workarounds for online type           05m 36s
The @font-face rule           05m 38s

2. Exploring Web Fonts
What are web fonts?           03m 18s
The WebFonts Working Group           02m 53s
CSS Fonts Module specification           06m 59s
Web font formats           05m 42s
Font rendering basics           03m 55s
Platform-specific font rendering           05m 52s

3. Working with Web Fonts
Web font hosting options           05m 03s
Web font hosting services           10m 50s
Choosing a font hosting service           04m 14s
Web font tools           12m 03s
Working with Typekit           08m 45s
Using Typekit to serve fonts           07m 05s
Using the Google Font API           04m 31s
Downloading licensed fonts           04m 41s
Generating web fonts           06m 40s

4. Enhancing Typography with CSS3
Exploring the finished file           02m 06s
The @font-face syntax           05m 40s
Writing @font-face declarations           06m 46s
Font sizing considerations           11m 09s
Using weights and styles           10m 17s
Transforming text           03m 51s
Creating multi-column text           05m 33s
Creating special effects with text shadows           05m 06s
Web font support detection           06m 46s

Conclusion
Additional resources           04m 11s