topic Re: Font sizes: what is the logic? in Documentation

Font sizes: what is the logic?

R Muller — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:43:54 GMT

After some experimentation, I have proven to myself that 9 pt Arial from ArchiCAD prints out at the same size as 12 pt Arial in published documents, such as Microsoft Word. Both have capital letters that are 1/8" high.

My understanding is that standard font sizes (as used in the publishing industry and as used by Microsoft Word) are measured from the lower case descenders to the top of the ascenders. 9 pt in Word is officially 9/72 of an inch, or 1/8", even though the capital letters are not 1/8".

Is there some reason why ArchiCAD has different point size terminology? Is it assumed that we will use only capital letters?

At any rate, this explains why we typically use 7 pt fonts in ArchiCAD, even though a 7 pt size would be way too small in a Word document.

Re: Font sizes: what is the logic?

David Maudlin — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:49:01 GMT

R Muller:

Check this article on ArchicadWiki: Sizing Text and Markers with Point Units by Ransom Ratcliff.

The explanation of the difference that Ferenc Lazar told me (I hope I remember correctly) is that when CAD programs output to pen plotters, the plotting fonts were measured simply as the height of the capital letters, rather than the way graphic fonts are today (and were then).

HTH

David

Re: Font sizes: what is the logic?

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 13:04:58 GMT

I did not know that there was an Archi-cad Wiki. That's a nice resource, it makes me happy inside.

cheers,
Daniel

Re: Font sizes: what is the logic?

R Muller — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 16:21:14 GMT

Thank you, David. You have answered my question, as well as pointing me to a new resource.

Re: Font sizes: what is the logic?

David Maudlin — Sat, 15 Apr 2006 13:06:28 GMT

This should become a good resource for frequently asked questions that appear on ArchiCAD-Talk (which is not so easy to search). I hope some of the posters here that spent some time explaining a tool or function in ArchiCAD-Talk transfer their hard work to ArchicadWiki.

David