what is this called?

Question

you no on all those fairytale books at the beginning on the first letter it has the special design for and its in like a rectangle or a box. if you have any idea what it's called please tell me what it's called

Answer 1

I think it's icon.

Answer 2

Illumination was an art form developed in medieval times when there was no printing press and every book was a hand-copied original piece of art.

The monks of the various monasteries added gold leaf, and special inks to highlight important passages and to mark the beginning of a passage with an over sized and decorated first letter.

The printing done to day resembles this art form only slightly, but is a direct holdover for a thousand years ago.

Here's a link showing a picture of an illuminated manuscript with the large first letter.

http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/making/

Look about 2/3 of the way down the page under the subheading "illumination".

Answer 3

Olde English Script

Answer 4

I think what you have in mind is called, "illumination."

As in "An illuminated manuscript."

See examples here:

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=illuminated+manuscript&btnG=Search

"Illuminate

To adorn, as a book or page with borders, initial letters,
or miniature pictures in colors and gold, as was done in
manuscripts of the Middle Ages.
[1913 Webster]"

Hope this helps! :-))

Answer 5

Technically in word processing programs that actually print that stuff it is called a "glyph"

Answer 6

In WORD it is called a Drop Cap...I thought I saw it recently so I looked it up, and sure enough that is what they call it.