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The Art & Science of Communicating through Type

There are eight pages to our Typography section of the site; you are currently at the “Type Classification” page.

Type Classifications | Families & FontsTypographic Terminology | Legibility & Readability
Selecting Type
 | Refinements | Dingbats, Special Characters & Drop Caps | Choosing Alignment

TYPEFACE CLASSIFICATION OVERVIEW
The goal of typeface classification is to enable designers to select and relate type designs based on common properties. Unfortunately, no one has yet been able to agree on a standardized system. This is further confused by the release of new typeface designs which possesses features from a variety of classifications. However, here is a simple classification system.


Garamond (1545) is a classic Oldstyle. Features include:

- angled stress
- modest angled serifs
- bracketed serifs
- very slight thick/thin contrast

Other oldstyles are: Bembo, Caslon, Galliard, Goudy, Century.

Modern

Bodoni (1788) is the first Modern. Features include:

- vertical stress
- flat hairline serifs
- unbracketed serifs
- extreme thick/thin contrast

Other moderns are: Fenice, Firenze, Albaum, Modern No. 20.

Slab Serif

Rockwell is an example of Slab Serif (Egyptian). Features include:

- no stress
- slab serifs
- unbracketed serifs
- very little or no thick/thin contrast

Other egyptians are: Lubalin, Alexandria, Stymie, Memphis.

 

Sans Serif

Verdana is an example of Sans Serif. Features include:

- no stress
- no serifs
- very little or no thick/thin contrast

Other sans serifs are: Universe, Avant Garde, Eras, Gill Sans, Futura, Arial, Helvetica.

Decorative

Decorative typefaces are meant for decoration only. This face is called Curlz.

Script Script typefaces usually emulate different kinds of handlettering. This script typeface is called Script Bold.


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