Although used interchangeably these days, they aren't quite the same thing. This point was brought out in a recent forum post when a reader was confused by my use of the word font when discussing single typeface documents. I mentioned that the nameplate uses two different fonts. I've since edited that article to clarify a bit. But a lot of people think of fonts and typefaces as being one and the same so saying that a single typeface document uses multiple fonts seems contradictory. It's not. So, what is the difference? Let's look at how a variety of writers, designers, and typographers differentiate:
- From the glossary of this site: Font refers to a specific typeface in a specific point size and style (but there's more to it than that).
- At The FontFeed there's a recap of a more detailed discussion of Font vs. Typeface, including Norbert Florendo's simple statement that "font is what you use, and typeface is what you see."
- Daniel Will-Harris' EsperFonto addresses Font or Typeface? with a couple of quick definitions.
- A Q&A at Publish answers the Font vs. typeface question by defining each and then acknowledging that "The terms font and typeface are frequently used interchangeably... ."
So if you're reading along and encounter the word font or typeface, how do you know which meaning is intended? Like a lot of other words you may have to rely on context to figure it out.
OK, I am confused.
“OK, I am confused.” I don’t blame you. Some of the definitions offered confuse me more than they help. But different people “click” with different things. For me, the simplest way to think of it is that Garamond, for example, is a typeface. No matter what size you make it. Whether it’s in Type 1, TrueType, or OpenType format, it’s a typeface called Garamond. The font of Garamond installed on my computer — the actual digital file (which might be OpenType or some other format) — contains the Garamond typeface. It doesn’t become a specific font until I put it on the screen or in print and specify a point size. Then that typeface in that specific point size is a font.
I’ve read some decriptions that say calling the digital font file a font is wrong. Sort of. But I think of it as what you are describing is a digital file that contains multiple fonts (sizes) of a certain typeface. So if you say you are choosing fonts or downloading fonts or installing fonts — you’re right — each individual file potentially contains many, many fonts in a certain typeface.
The simplest way to sort typefaces from fonts is to think of typefaces as families and fonts as individuals, e.g. Garamond is a typeface family that has the fonts (individuals) of Garamond Regular, Garamond Italic, Garamond Bold etc
So a “simple typeface document” is made up of a variety of family members. So if you use Garamond from our sample above, you can use a combination of family members (fonts) such as: Regular, Light, Condensed, Bold, Bold Italic – all within the family of Garamond.
Hope this helps
can I say one font equal one typeface family
I really felt if the author could have explained things out here rather then giving external links.