What is font classification?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.
Old Style
The roman typefaces of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries emulated classical calligraphy. Sabon was designed by Jan Tschichold in 1966, based on the sixteenth-century typefaces of Claude Garamond.
ex. Cordial bloom, Christiana, Dobra
Transitional
These typefaces have sharper serifs and a more vertical axis than humanist letters. When the fonts of John Baskerville were introduced in the mid-eighteenth century, their sharp forms and high contrast were considered shocking.
ex. Adrian Text, Winthorpe, Utopia
Modern
The typefaces designed by Giambattista Bodoni in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries are radically abstract. Note the thin, straight serifs; vertical axis; and sharp contrast from thick to thin strokes.
ex. Century Gothic, Champion Gothic, Nara
Slab Serif
Numerous bold and decorative typefaces were introduced in the nineteenth century for use in advertising. Egyptian fonts have heavy, slab-like serifs.
ex. Irma Slab, Brioni Text, Enzia
Sans Serif
Sans-serif typefaces became common in the twentieth century. Gill Sans, designed by Eric Gill in 1928, has humanist characteristics. Note the small, lilting counter in the letter a , and the calligraphic variations in line weight.
ex. Century Gothic, Fette Fraktur, Swiss 721
Script
Script typefaces often mimic handwriting techniques
ex. Mama script, Suave Script, Mousse script
Blackletter
Legacy German text typefaces now used for display
ex. Kaas, Fakir, Brea
Grunge
Font that looks dirty or grungy
ex. Badhouse, New Global, Behind the Typedia Logo
Monospaced
All the font's characters have the same width
