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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Cap height

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounCommon term

In graphic design, cap height means: The distance from the baseline to the top of flat capital letters.

In Turkish: büyük harf yüksekliği

How it is used

Compare cap heights when aligning capitals with symbols or other typefaces.

Example sentences

  1. Match the icon's height to the cap height of the label.

    The capital letters provide a reference for sizing the adjacent symbol.

  2. The two fonts have different cap heights at the same point size.

    Equal nominal sizes do not guarantee equally tall capital letters.

Common collocations

  • measure cap height
  • match the cap height
  • baselineThe invisible line on which most letters sit. Letters like ‘g’ and ‘p’ go below it, and leading is measured from one baseline to the next.
  • x-heightThe height of the lowercase letters in a typeface, such as x, measured from the baseline and not counting the parts that go above or below, like in ‘h’ or ‘p’.

More terms: Typography

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