How do you measure type size? Michigan wants to know
From my home state...
The issue is whether a coalition of unions and others behind the repeal effort circulated petitions with headings in 14-point type. A 1954 law (amended in 1965) does not specify how type size is supposed to be measured or what font should be used, and some justices want to know if actual letters should be measured instead of the "printer's block" equivalent that includes rectangular space around the letters.
Here, I'll fix it. Headings: 18 pt. Helios - no, Triumverate, wait, better make that Helvetica - with 19 pt. leading. Body copy: 10 pt. Times New Roman with 11 pt. leading, indenting each paragraph .25".
If you think thats waste of energy you should try and deal with the BATF wine label specs . . . there type size is measured in milimeters and they only measure the cap height . . . go figure - and better yet they only accept jpgs for approval - haven't figured out what a pdf is yet - more government intelligence -
When I was a proofreader, I used an old fashioned E-scale chart. And I confess that I only measured the actual letter height. I think I still have a couple, and I'm in Ohio so I could let your Supreme Court borrow one if necessary.
Maybe the aggrieved party can claim they used a different font than Helvetica, and 14 point only looks like 12 point.
ahh Mr. Meddington - always refreshing to hear what is really important in life - especially as I sit here scanning press targets whose curves look like camel's back with many many humps.