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Graphic Design vocabulary · Typography

Proportional figures

Meaning in graphic design, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In graphic design, proportional figures means: Numerals whose widths vary according to their individual shapes.

In Turkish: orantılı genişlikli rakamlar

How it is used

Choose them for natural spacing in prose rather than automatic column alignment.

Example sentences

  1. The date looks less spaced out with proportional figures.

    Narrow digits need not occupy the same width as broad ones.

  2. Proportional figures made the price columns uneven in the catalogue.

    Different digit widths can disturb vertical alignment across separate numbers.

Common collocations

  • proportional figures
  • proportional lining figures
  • body copyThe main, longer text of a design, such as paragraphs in a brochure or article, as opposed to headlines, captions and other short text.
  • trackingThe overall spacing between letters across a whole word, line or paragraph, adjusted evenly to make text look looser or tighter.

More terms: Typography

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