Font / TypefaceFont / Typeface

Font or TypefaceFont or Typeface

Typeface (letters & numerals with unique design)Typeface (letters & numerals with unique design) E.g., Ariel, Helvetica, Time New Roam, CourierE.g., Ariel, Helvetica, Time New Roam, Courier

Font (style)Font (style) E.g., Roman, regular boldface, italicE.g., Roman, regular boldface, italic

Typeface CategoriesTypeface Categories

SerifSerif

Sans SerifSans Serif

Helvetica

Typeface CategoriesTypeface Categories Proportionally SpacedProportionally Spaced MonospacedMonospaced

Technological InfluenceTechnological Influence

Medieval: Hand scripting by scribesMedieval: Hand scripting by scribes Gutenberg: Printing Press (1450-1480)Gutenberg: Printing Press (1450-1480) Industrial Revolution: Linotype (1870’s-Industrial Revolution: Linotype (1870’s-

1960’s)1960’s) Photocomposition: (1950’s-1980’s)Photocomposition: (1950’s-1980’s) Computers: Digital fonts (starting in 1970’s)Computers: Digital fonts (starting in 1970’s)

Black Letter FontsBlack Letter Fonts(Medieval)(Medieval)

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsOrnate, throwback from hand scripting in monasteriesOrnate, throwback from hand scripting in monasteries

TexturaTextura

Cloistered BlackCloistered Black

Old StyleOld Style(Reinassance)(Reinassance)

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsConsidered “warm” and friendly, serifConsidered “warm” and friendly, serif(Serif allowed for wearing off of print head)(Serif allowed for wearing off of print head)

CentaurCentaur

BemboBembo

TransitionalTransitional

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsVertical stress, horizontal serifsVertical stress, horizontal serifs

FournierFournier

BemboBembo

ModernModern CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Horizontals and serifs are thin.Horizontals and serifs are thin.(Technology allowed serifs and horizontal strokes (Technology allowed serifs and horizontal strokes to be thin.)to be thin.)

BedoniBedoni

WalbaumWalbaum

Sans-SerifSans-Serif

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsNo horizontal flourishes. GeometricNo horizontal flourishes. Geometric(Serif no longer needed to compensate for print (Serif no longer needed to compensate for print head erosion.)head erosion.)

HelveticaHelvetica

ArialArial

AaBbCcDdEeAaBbCcDdEe

Script/CursiveScript/Cursive

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsResemble handwriting, especially with steel nib.Resemble handwriting, especially with steel nib.

Staccato222 BTStaccato222 BT

Monotype CorsiveMonotype Corsive

AaBbCcDdEeAaBbCcDdEe

AaBbCcDdEeAaBbCcDdEe

Serifs vs Sans-serifsSerifs vs Sans-serifs

SerifsSerifs Most common in printed text.Most common in printed text. Easier on the eye for regular textEasier on the eye for regular text

Sans-serifsSans-serifs OK for short text.OK for short text. Useful to make text stand out.Useful to make text stand out. Effective as titlesEffective as titles

Other ExamplesOther Examples

MonospacedMonospaced DecorativeDecorative SymbolsSymbols Computer-relatedComputer-related

Advice (Comic Sans MS)Advice (Comic Sans MS)

Do not overuse the variety of Do not overuse the variety of font typeface. (Monotype font typeface. (Monotype Corsive)Corsive)

Too many typefaces on a page is Too many typefaces on a page is distracting. (Courier New)distracting. (Courier New)

Same goes for Same goes for boldingbolding and and italicizingitalicizing. Use . Use them for emphasis effect. (Times New Roman)them for emphasis effect. (Times New Roman)

ReferencesReferences

Thomas Phinney, Thomas Phinney, A Brief History of TypefaceA Brief History of Typefacehttp://http://www.redsun.com/type/abriefhistoryoftypewww.redsun.com/type/abriefhistoryoftype//

The Font Pool – source of 27,372 fontsThe Font Pool – source of 27,372 fontshttp://www.fontpool.com/http://www.fontpool.com/

Fonts by Category—Fonts by Category—http://http://www.fontpool.com/categories/index.htmlwww.fontpool.com/categories/index.html