Font Classification

Font Classifications:

A basic system for classifying typefaces was devised in the nineteenth century, when printers sought to identify a heritage for their own craft analogous to that of art history. Humanist letterforms are closely connected to calligraphy and the movement of the hand. Transitional and modern typefaces are more abstract and less organic. These three main groups correspond roughly to the Renaissance, Baroque, and Enlightenment periods in art and literature. Designers in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries have continued to create new typefaces based on historic characteristics.

OLD STYLE:(15th - 17th century)

The concept of adhering to manuscript models was the basis of the first 300 years of type design, and typefaces designed during this period are referred to as Old Style.

-Oldstyle Characterisitcs:

-minimal variation of thick and thin strokes

-small, coarse serifs, often with slightly concave bases

-small x-heights.

Examples: Sabon, Palatino,Calisto

TRANSITIONAL: (Mid 18th century)

Represent the initial departure from centuries of Old Style tradition and immediately predate the Modern period. These typefaces have sharper serifs and a more vertical axis than humanist letters.

Examples: Didoni, Eurostile, ITC Franklin Gothic

MODERN: (late 18th century)

These types are classified as Modern because they represent the last phase of character evolution from the pen-inspired Old Style types as well as the first effort to use the design of type to establish a contemporary visual style in written communication.

-Modern Characteristics:

-Extreme contrast between thick and thin strokes

-Hairline serifs without bracketing

-Small x-height

-Vertical stress in rounded strokes

Examples: Electra,Bodoni,Didot

SLAB SERIF: (19th century)

Serif with thick, square-ended serifs,includes bold and decorative type faces. The Industrial Revolution brought changes to printing and typography in the 19th century. Manufacturing and mass production of consumer goods had two major effects on print communication: the creation of new kinds of print media and the emergence of more functional type designs for commercial purposes.

-Slab Serif Characteristics:

-minimal variation of thick and thin strokes

-heavy serifs with squared-off ends

-large x-heights.

-vertical stress in rounded strikes

Examples: Clarendon, Bookman, American Typewriter

SANS SERIF: (19th-20th century)

Very much a backlash against the typographic excesses of the 19th century, the new design direction sought a basic letterform which was suitable for contemporary communication. Stripped to the bare minimum by loosing serif appendages

-Sans Serif Characteristics:

-little or no variation between thick and thin strokes

-lack of serifs

-larger x-height

-no stress in rounded strokes

Examples: Futura,Univers, Helvetica

SCRIPT: (19TH-20TH century)

Typefaces designed to look like handwriting or hand lettering styles. The scripts are linked or have joining lowercase letters, these designs can be calligraphic , appearing to be hand drawn, formal, look engraved, and are seen on social printing like invitations and announcements.

Examples: Kaufmann bold, Mistral, Sonara

BLACKLETTER:

A typographic style used for more than 600 years. Seen in newspaper nameplates, beer labels, religious scriptures,tattoos etc. It is a legacy German typeface that is now used for display.

Examples: Goudy text Std, Lucida Blackletter, San Marco

GRUNGE:

Scratchy typefaces that populated in the 1990s and early 2000's with the popularity of "grunge" musical movement. These typefaces contrast with the conventions of classic typography.

Examples: New Global, MC Auto,Film

MONOSPACED:

These typefaces conform to a specific width, resulting in letterforms that must expand or condense to make the best use of the alloted space. These typefaces are also spaced perfectly evenly, the letterforms are unusual and futuristic, limiting their usability.

Examples: Courier, Orator Std, Lucida Sans Typewriter Std

UNDECLARED:

Two baffling typefaces, Optima and Copperplate Gothic. Referred to as 'undeclared' due to their flared serifs which are attached to their sans serif structures, begging the question if they are serifs? or sans serifs?

Examples: Optima, Copperplate Gothic