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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Pica

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounCommon term

In graphic design, pica means: A typographic length unit equal to twelve points.

In Turkish: pika

How it is used

Use in publishing measurements; do not confuse it with a pixel count.

Example sentences

  1. The designer specified a column width of twenty picas.

    The unit expresses a physical layout dimension in type measures.

  2. A one-pica gap equals twelve points in this layout.

    The example converts between two related typographic units.

Common collocations

  • pica measurement
  • column width in picas
  • layoutThe way text, images and other elements are arranged on a page, screen or poster, including their size, position and the space between them.
  • typographyThe art and skill of choosing and arranging letters so that text is easy to read and looks right: the choice of typefaces, sizes, spacing and line length.

More terms: Typography

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