e whole problem of spacing is, however, one of such subtle interrelation
and composition, that it can only be satisfactorily solved by the artistic
sense of the designer. Any rules which might be here formulated would prove
more often a drawback than a help.

Certain optical illusions of some of the Roman letter forms should be
briefly mentioned. These illusions are caused by the failure of certain
letters to impinge squarely with determining serifs against the demarking
top and bottom guide lines. The round letters C, G, O and Q often seem to
be shorter and smaller than the other characters in a word unless the
outsides of their curves run both above and below the guide lines. For the
same reason S should be sometimes slightly increased in height, though in
this case the narrowness of the letter makes less increase necessary; and
J, on account of its kern, is governed by the same conditions as S, save
when letters with distinct serifs come closely against it at the bottom.
Theoretically the right side of D would require similar treatment, but
actually this is seldom found necessary. The pointed ends of [9] the
letters V and W should, for similar optical reasons, be extended slightly
below the bottom guide lines, the amount of this extension being determined
by the letters on each side of them. In the A, the Roman letterer at first
got over the optical difficulty caused by its pointed top by running this
letter also higher than its neighbors; but he later solved the problem by
shaping its apex as shown in I, thus apparently getting the letter into
line with its companions while still obtaining a sufficient width of top to
satisfy the eye. Because of its narrowness, I should generally be allowed
more proportionate white space on either side of it than the wider letters.

Some idea of the proportionate variations required to counteract the
optical illusions of the letters above named may be obtained from the
practice of type-founders. In making the designs for a fount of type, it
has been customary to first draw each letter at a very large size. Taking
an arbitrary height of twelve inches as a standard, the points of A and V
were made to extend about three-quarters of an inch above or below the
guides, the letter O was run over about half an inch at both top and
bottom, and the points of the w were made to project about the same
distance. In pen lettering, however, it is possible and preferable to adapt
each letter more pe