The ability to choose just the right typeface for your design project can make a world of a difference. Although t ypography can be a complex subject to delve into, learning a bit about the history of typefaces will help you understand what makes each classification distinct from the rest.
Typefaces are classified according to the era in which they became popular or the design characteristics that made them stand out. Old Style Serifs This category is based on the first Roman types. It was estimated to have been used from the late 15 th century up to the mid-18 th century. Types are also known as Garalde types. They are characterized by great contrast between thin and thick strokes. Today, and are characterized by these same features.
Transitional Serifs This type was introduced by John Baskerville, a notable English printer and typographer from the mid-18 th century. This style represents the modification of Old Style types and neoclassical designs, while adapting some definitive characteristics of its own. Transitional designs are most notable for having.
They have great contrast between sub-strokes and horizontally defined heads. Neoclassical and Modern Serifs These were born in the late 18 th century. The Italian type designer Giambattista Bodoni is one of the most prominent figures related to this style type.
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These typefaces have abrupt and dramatic contrast between thin and thick strokes. The stroke terminals are oftentimes ball-shaped, offering a more distinct design with clearly shaped letters. They have a vertical axis and, like Baskerville, are characterized by horizontal stress and have tails with a distinctively small aperture. These typefaces are most commonly used today in high-end fashion magazines because they are elegant, unhurried, calm and controlled.
Today, moderns serifs include but are not limited to ITC Bodoni, ITC Fenice, Adobe New Caledonia and Berthold Walbaum. Slab Serifs These gained popularity and recognition in advertising projects in the early 19 th century. Publishing houses were looking to get their printed materials noticed so they decided to use typefaces that grabbed readers' attention.
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The slab serif family is characterized by thick block lines at the end of strokes. They can appear curvy like Clarendon or more prominent and unbracketed like Rockwell. Today, some of the most used slab serifs include Archer from H&FJ and Officina Serif by Erik Spiekermann. The former comes in various weights and comes beautifully set in italics.
The latter is a full-bodied and legible typeface that is very flexible. Clarendon Serifs This is an original design by Robert Beasley, an 19th-century English typographer. It was the very first patented typeface. It comes in five different weights: light, heavy, black, bold and roman. It has a slight stroke contrast and appears short to medium in length. Later designs were modified to have heavier and more obvious strokes and longer serifs.