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Matrices thickness comparison

The thickness of the matrix depends on the letter on it, but also on the type size. On this page, I illustrate the differences in thickness between the matrices. I was evaluating Linotype Helvetica if there was a correlation between in the thickness of the matrices and lugs, but came to the conclusion that there isn't. It is all quite structured but exceptions can randomly take place.

The table provides the following measurements: the total thickness of the matrices and the thickness of the lugs.

The thickness of the matricesThe thickness of the lugs

Measurements were done for 14pt, 12pt, 10pt, 8pt and 6pt Helvetica by Linotype. Some matrices of this set, such as the EM space, were replacements from another company, but have been in use for many years in this typeface. These are the main conclusions that could be made:

  1. The thickness depends on the letter depicted. So, when measuring another typeface, the outcome will be a completely different table.
  2. Lugs generally keep the same thickness, but often narrow down when the matrices become very small. Those are underlined in the table.
  3. Lugs are never thicker than the matrix.
  4. Lugs are generally on the right side of the matrix. Only some exceptions were found where the lugs had the following distance from the right side of the matrix:

    Belgian 14□8606
    keyboard
    EM Space 0,75mm*
    è 0,60mm
    ê 0,30mm
    4 0,40mm
    7 0,40mm
    S 0,30mm
    C 0,55mm
    œ 0,10mm
    W 0,40mm




Example matrices thickness

The following table compares dimensions of the Linotype Helvetica in different point sizes:




American Belgian   Max. magazine space   14□8606 12□8605 10△8604 8△8602 6△8600 14□8606 12□8605 10△8604 8△8602 6△8600
keyboard keyboard   in inch in mm   thickness thickness thickness thickness thickness lugs lugs lugs lugs lugs
   
letter height     4,40 3,80 3,30 2,70 2,20
      -PARTITION 1-                                  
0 e (1th) e (1th)   0,140 3,556   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
1 e (2nd) e (2nd)   0,120 3,048   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
2 t l   0,110 2,794   1,20 1,10 1,05 0,85 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
3 a a   0,140 3,556   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,20 mm 1,10 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
4 o o   0,130 3,302   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
5 i i   0,110 2,794   1,25 1,10 1,10 0,85 0,75 0,70 mm 0,70 mm 0,70 mm 0,70 mm 0,70 mm
6 n n   0,150 3,810   2,85 1,45 2,05 1,65 1,35 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
7 s s   0,120 3,048   2,55 1,20 1,75 1,40 1,20 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,85 mm 0,85 mm 0,85 mm
8 h d   0,130 3,302   3,00 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
9 r r   0,120 3,048   1,85 1,60 1,35 1,10 0,90 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,90 mm
10 d é   0,140 3,556   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,95 mm
11 l t   0,120 3,048   1,50 1,30 1,25 1,05 0,80 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
12 u u   0,140 3,556   2,85 2,45 2,05 1,65 1,35 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm
13 c c   0,120 3,048   2,75 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,95 mm
14 m m   0,220 5,588   4,30 3,60 3,00 2,40 2,00 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm
15 f f   0,120 3,048   1,50 1,30 1,10 0,90 0,80 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,80 mm 0,90 mm 0,80 mm
16 w h   0,200 5,080   2,85 2,45 2,10 1,65 1,35 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
17 y y   0,130 3,302   2,60 2,15 1,80 1,40 1,20 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 0,95 mm 0,95 mm 0,95 mm
18 p p   0,140 3,556   2,95 2,55 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
      -PARTITION 2-     0,105 2,667                          
19 v v   0,150 3,810   3,50 2,15 1,75 1,40 1,20 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,10 mm 1,20 mm
20 b b   0,130 3,302   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
21 g g   0,130 3,302   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
22 k k   0,140 3,556   2,70 2,35 1,95 1,55 1,25 1,25 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
23 q q   0,130 3,302   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
24 j j   0,110 2,794   1,40 1,20 1,05 0,80 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
25 x x   0,140 3,556   2,70 2,25 1,90 1,50 1,20 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
26 z z   0,120 3,048   2,50 2,15 1,75 1,40 1,20 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
27 fi Z   0,130 3,302   3,10 2,65 2,25 1,80 1,45 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,25 mm
28 fl K   0,150 3,810   3,45 2,95 2,45 2,00 1,65 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,25 mm
29 ff w   0,160 4,064   3,85 3,20 2,65 1,25 1,75 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
30 ffi ç   0,205 5,207   2,75 2,35 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
31 ffl dotted line   0,205 5,207   /// /// 4,50 4,50 4,50 /// /// 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm
32 EM Space EM Space   0,210 5,334   5,25 3,50 3,75 3,00 2,25 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm
33 , ,   0,110 2,794   1,30 1,10 0,95 0,75 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
34 . .   0,110 2,794   1,30 1,10 0,95 0,90 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
35 : :   0,120 3,048   1,45 1,35 1,10 0,90 0,75 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
36 ; ;   0,120 3,048   1,50 1,35 1,10 0,95 0,75 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,95 mm 0,75 mm
      -PARTITION 3-     0,725 18,415                          
37 ? ?   0,140 3,556   3,00 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
38 Figure Space EN Space   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,90 1,85 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
39 ( (   0,120 3,048   1,75 1,50 1,25 1,00 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,70 mm
40 | è   0,120 3,048   1,85 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 0,65 mm 0,70 mm 1,00 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
41 Front quote ê   0,120 3,048   1,85 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
42 ! !   0,205 5,207   1,45 1,35 1,10 0,90 0,75 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 0,90 mm 0,75 mm
43 - -   0,120 3,048   1,85 1,50 1,25 1,00 0,85 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
44 Thin Space Thin Space   0,120 3,048   1,30 1,15 0,85 //// 0,65 1,00 mm 0,80 mm 0,80 mm 0,65 mm 0,65 mm
45 ) )   0,130 3,302   1,75 1,50 1,25 1,00 0,75 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,70 mm
46 EN Leader à   0,115 2,921   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,30 1,15 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
47 ' '   0,110 2,794   1,35 1,10 0,95 0,75 0,70 0,70 mm 0,70 mm 0,70 mm 0,75 mm 0,70 mm
48 * <<   0,210 5,334   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
49 1 1   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
50 2 2   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
51 3 3   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
52 4 4   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
53 5 5   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
54 6 >>   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
      -PARTITION 4-     0,090 2,286                          
55 7 6   0,145 3,683   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
56 8 7   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
57 9 8   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
58 0 9   0,115 2,921   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
59 $ 0   0,195 4,953   2,60 2,25 1,85 1,50 1,10 1,20 mm 1,15 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
60 EM Leader ù   0,210 5,334   2,85 2,45 2,10 1,65 1,35 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
61 E E   0,170 4,318   3,25 2,75 2,30 1,85 1,55 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,85 mm 1,55 mm
62 T L   0,170 4,318   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,80 mm 1,80 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,40 mm
63 American A   0,190 4,826   3,50 2,95 2,45 1,95 1,60 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,60 mm
64 O î   0,170 4,318   2,50 1,25 1,00 0,85 0,75 0,90 mm 0,90 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm 0,75 mm
65 I I   0,110 2,794   2,40 1,25 1,10 0,90 0,80 1,20 mm 1,20 mm 1,00 mm 0,95 mm 0,80 mm
66 N N   0,180 4,572   3,60 3,10 2,60 2,05 1,75 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,75 mm
67 S S   0,150 3,810   3,30 2,80 2,30 1,85 1,50 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
68 H D   0,205 5,207   3,55 3,05 2,55 2,05 1,70 2,20 mm 2,20 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,70 mm
69 R R   0,180 4,572   3,45 2,95 2,45 2,00 1,65 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,65 mm
70 D O   0,180 4,572   3,80 3,30 2,80 2,20 1,85 1,85 mm 2,00 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm
71 L T   0,160 4,064   3,05 2,60 2,15 1,75 1,40 1,50 mm 1,70 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,40 mm
72 U U   0,190 4,826   3,55 3,05 2,50 2,10 1,70 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,70 mm
      -PARTITION 5-     0,050 1,270                          
73 C C   0,160 4,064   3,60 3,10 2,60 2,05 1,70 1,15 mm 1,50 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
74 M M   0,210 5,334   4,25 3,60 3,05 2,45 2,05 2,25 mm 2,25 mm 2,25 mm 2,25 mm 2,05 mm
75 F F   0,170 4,318   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,70 mm 1,80 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,40 mm
76 W H   0,270 6,858   3,55 3,10 2,20 2,05 1,75 2,20 mm 2,25 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,75 mm
77 Y Y   0,190 4,826   3,35 2,85 2,80 1,85 1,50 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,85 mm 1,50 mm
78 P P   0,160 4,064   3,15 2,80 2,30 1,85 1,50 1,50 mm 1,80 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm
79 V V   0,190 4,826   3,20 2,80 2,30 1,85 1,50 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,85 mm 1,50 mm
80 B B   0,170 4,318   3,40 2,95 2,45 2,00 1,65 1,70 mm 1,80 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm 1,50 mm
81 G G   0,190 4,826   3,90 3,35 2,80 2,20 1,90 1,70 mm 1,80 mm 1,20 mm 1,70 mm 1,70 mm
82 K û   0,200 5,080   2,85 2,45 1,05 1,65 1,40 1,20 mm 2,00 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
83 Q Q   0,180 4,572   3,85 3,35 2,75 2,00 1,85 1,70 mm 1,75 mm 2,00 mm 1,70 mm 1,70 mm
84 J J   0,130 3,302   2,60 2,25 1,90 1,50 1,20 1,20 mm 1,30 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
85 X X   0,190 4,826   3,30 2,80 2,30 1,85 1,50 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
86 Z â   0,200 5,080   2,80 2,40 2,00 1,60 1,25 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,25 mm 1,20 mm 1,20 mm
87 œ or @ ô   0,200 5,080   2,95 2,50 2,10 1,70 1,40 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 0,95 mm 1,00 mm 1,20 mm
88 æ or lb œ   0,205 5,207   4,50 3,85 3,20 2,55 2,15 1,20 mm 1,25 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
89 & W   0,200 5,080   4,60 3,95 3,25 2,60 2,15 1,10 mm 1,25 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm 1,00 mm
90 — —   0,200 5,080   2,65 4,50 3,75 3,00 2,25 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm 2,00 mm
            0,585 14,859                          
       

sources

  1. All information on this page was measured by Maarten Renckens from existing Linotype matrices.

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