Typography is a visual art that has been around for centuries, and it’s still going strong today.
There are many different types of typography out there, but they all have one thing in common: They make text look good!
So, what exactly are the different types of typography, and how are they used? Let’s find out below.
What Are The Types of Typography?
There are two main categories of typography: serif and sans-serif.
Serif fonts were originally designed to be more legible when printed on paper because they had extra lines or strokes added to them.
Sans-serif fonts appeared modern and clean without any additional lines or strokes. Both of these font styles can be combined together for even better results.
Serif Font Styles
The most popular typeface style is called “Old Style Serif”. This typeface was created by Hermann Zapf back in the early 1900s.
Old Style Serif fonts have thick, bold lines that go through every letter, making them easier to read. These old-fashioned fonts are often used for headlines and body copy.
The second type of serif font is called “Modern Style Serif”.
Modern Style Serif fonts were developed during the 1950s and 1960s and were meant to mimic the look of handwriting, which makes them perfect for logos, posters, and other things where you want your message to feel handwritten.
Sans-Serif Font Styles
The first type of sans-serif font is called “Grotesque”, and Max Miedinger created it in the 1920s.
Grotesque fonts are very similar to cursive writing, so they’re great for creating an elegant, formal appearance.
The second type is called “Didone,” and Adrian Frutiger invented it in the 1940s.
Didone fonts are based on traditional Italian calligraphy, so they’re also known as “Gothic Script.”
These fonts are usually found in books and magazines, and they come with a lot of personality.
What About Script Type Styles?
There are a few script-type styles out there, including formal scripts, blackletter, and lombardic scripts, casual scripts, calligraphic scripts, and decorative styles.
Formal Scripts
Formal scripts are the most commonly used typefaces for everyday use. They tend to be very simple and clean, and they’re great for headings, titles, and short paragraphs.
Some examples include Times New Roman, Arial, and Garamond.
Blackletter Scripts
Blackletter scripts are considered to be the oldest typeface style, dating back to the 15th century.
Blackletter fonts are typically used for longer texts like novels, poems, and articles. They tend to look very old-fashioned, and they’re best suited for historical subjects.
Lombardic Scripts
Lombardic scripts are another popular script style. They were originally used in ancient Rome, and they’ve been revived in recent years.
They’re very ornate and unique, and they’re best used for large amounts of text.
Casual Scripts
Casual scripts are a new typeface style that’s becoming increasingly popular. They’re not really scripts at all; instead, they’re just a bunch of letters arranged into words.
They’re good for short texts like tweets and Facebook posts.
Calligraphic Scripts
Calligraphic scripts are sometimes referred to as “handwriting,” but they’re actually a completely different style from regular handwriting.
Calligraphic scripts were developed in China around 1,500 years ago, and they’re still being used today.
They’re beautiful and artistic, and they can make any piece of content stand out.
Decorative Styles
Decorative styles are some of the newest typeface styles. They’re extremely colorful and fun, and they’re best for small pieces of text like Instagram captions or Twitter bios.
Choosing The Right Typeface: What You Need To Know
When choosing a typeface, you need to think about what kind of impression you want to leave.
For example, is this going to be a business card, a website header, or something else entirely?
It depends on how much time and money you have available, so keep these things in mind when selecting your typeface.
Here are some tips for choosing a typeface:
1) Think about the size of the text. If you’re designing a logo, then you’ll probably want to choose a larger font than if you’re creating a headline for an article.
2) Consider the colors of the text. If your company has a specific color scheme, then you should definitely stick with those colors.
Otherwise, you might want to try using a variety of colors to create contrast between the various parts of your design.
3) Choose a typeface that fits within your budget. There are plenty of free fonts online, but if you don’t have enough money to buy one, then you may want to consider using a webfont (a downloadable version of a typeface).
4) Don’t forget to consider accessibility. If someone is reading your work on a screen, then it’s important that they can easily read everything without having to zoom in or out too far.
This means that you should avoid using a huge or tiny font size.
5) Make sure that your typeface looks great in both black and white. Many people assume that only bold or italicized fonts will look good in black and white, but that’s not true.
In fact, many designers use their entire typefaces in black and white because it gives them more flexibility.
6) Try to find a balance between legibility and creativity. When choosing a typeface, it’s important to remember that there needs to be a balance between the two.
You need your typography to be creative in order to grab people’s attention, but if it doesn’t relay the message or aesthetic you’re trying to get across, it’s not fit for purpose.
7) Don’t limit yourself to a single typeface. Instead, try to mix up your fonts by using multiple sizes and weights.
Final Thoughts
There are tons of different types of typography, and each one serves a purpose.
Decorative styles are perfect for adding a little bit of pizzazz to your designs, while calligraphic scripts are ideal for older and longer texts.
Whatever typeface you need, there are so many options to choose from that you’ll be sure to find the right one for your project!