kirjasügavus

Kirjasügavus refers to the depth of a typeface, a less commonly discussed typographic characteristic. It pertains to the extent to which the counterforms, the enclosed or partially enclosed negative spaces within letters like 'o', 'p', 'b', or 'd', penetrate towards the outer stroke of the letter. A typeface with a deep kirjasügavus would have very small or nearly non-existent counterforms, making the enclosed spaces appear shallow. Conversely, a typeface with a shallow kirjasügavus would have more open and expansive counterforms.

This characteristic is influenced by the overall design of the typeface and can impact its legibility and aesthetic qualities. For instance, in some very condensed or display typefaces, the counters might be reduced to enhance a sense of visual density or impact. In other more open and readable text typefaces, the counters are typically generous to ensure clarity at smaller sizes. Kirjasügavus is a subtle but integral aspect of a font's construction, contributing to its unique visual voice and performance in different contexts. It is a concept that is often considered alongside other parameters like x-height, ascender/descender length, and stroke contrast when analyzing or designing typefaces.