Typeface Classifications
Study the basic classifications of type, what they look like and how they evolved.
POLL: Is learning / knowing typeface classifications important?
1) Yes, definitely. All designers should know this stuff.
2) A few basics won't hurt, but in-depth knowledge isn't necessary
3) As long as I like the font, I don't care how it's classified.
POLL: Is learning / knowing typeface classifications important?
1) Yes, definitely. All designers should know this stuff.
2) A few basics won't hurt, but in-depth knowledge isn't necessary
3) As long as I like the font, I don't care how it's classified.
Blackletter
Defines and illustrates blackletter type.
Defines and illustrates blackletter type.
Italic
Think you know what italic type is? Check it out.
Think you know what italic type is? Check it out.
Modern
Defines this kind of type.
Defines this kind of type.
Old Style
Defines this type style.
Defines this type style.
Roman
How much Roman type do you read each day? Find out.
How much Roman type do you read each day? Find out.
Sans Serif
Learn what Sans Serif is and what it looks like.
Learn what Sans Serif is and what it looks like.
Serif (Detailed)
Dig into Serif type.
Dig into Serif type.
Serif
Here's the basic definition and an illustration of Serif.
Here's the basic definition and an illustration of Serif.
Slab Serif
Defines this style of type.
Defines this style of type.
Transitional
Defines this kind of type.
Defines this kind of type.
21st century type classification blues
Typotheque discussion of modern typeface classifications and some of the issues involved in classifying today's font designs.
Typotheque discussion of modern typeface classifications and some of the issues involved in classifying today's font designs.
abc typography
This virtual museum of typography places typefaces into four broad categories: classical (1480-1890), 20th Century, Contemporary, and Unclassified.
This virtual museum of typography places typefaces into four broad categories: classical (1480-1890), 20th Century, Contemporary, and Unclassified.
Adobe Type Library: Type Classifications
Here's how Adobe organizes its fonts. Each category includes a brief description along with how each group of fonts is typically or a little history of the category.
Here's how Adobe organizes its fonts. Each category includes a brief description along with how each group of fonts is typically or a little history of the category.
Fontscape
This font directory is included here because of its somewhat different approach to categorizing fonts including by mood, period, appearance, and simulation. The also include more traditional typeface classifications.
This font directory is included here because of its somewhat different approach to categorizing fonts including by mood, period, appearance, and simulation. The also include more traditional typeface classifications.
IBM Font Class Parameters
Similar to the ISO/IEC/9541-1 Annex A categories but with a few subclasses combined or further subclasses added. Basically it's Oldstyle, Transitional, Modern, Clarendon, Slab, Freeform, Sans Serif, Ornamentals, Scripts, Symbolic.
Similar to the ISO/IEC/9541-1 Annex A categories but with a few subclasses combined or further subclasses added. Basically it's Oldstyle, Transitional, Modern, Clarendon, Slab, Freeform, Sans Serif, Ornamentals, Scripts, Symbolic.
ISO/IEC/9541-1 Annex A
The Typeface Design Grouping of the Font Resource Management standard uses Uncial, Inscriptional, Blackletter, Serif, Sans Serif, Script, Ornamentals, and Symbols and Ornaments plus a variety of sub-classes for type.
The Typeface Design Grouping of the Font Resource Management standard uses Uncial, Inscriptional, Blackletter, Serif, Sans Serif, Script, Ornamentals, and Symbols and Ornaments plus a variety of sub-classes for type.
Little Typeface Primer
This lengthy page takes a look at traditional typeface classifications. Includes illustrations, descriptions, and variations.
This lengthy page takes a look at traditional typeface classifications. Includes illustrations, descriptions, and variations.
Typeface Classification
The Font Pool has an excellent timeline plus illustrations, breakdowns, and descriptions of one way to classify fonts.
The Font Pool has an excellent timeline plus illustrations, breakdowns, and descriptions of one way to classify fonts.
Typeface classification/Catherine Dixon
Rather than outlining various categories of type, this is a discussion of the importance of the process of classification of typefaces and changes in the way type is categorized.
Rather than outlining various categories of type, this is a discussion of the importance of the process of classification of typefaces and changes in the way type is categorized.
Typeface Classifications
Scroll down to font samples from 8 classifications of type including Old Style, Modern, and Symbol. (May differ from other sources.)
Scroll down to font samples from 8 classifications of type including Old Style, Modern, and Symbol. (May differ from other sources.)
Typography Basics: Typeface classifications (PDF)
This PDF file from Adobe says that to "create a good typographic layout you need to know when to use, and when not to use" Blackletter, Decorative, Script, Serif, Transitional and other kinds of type. Has brief descriptions and illustrations.
This PDF file from Adobe says that to "create a good typographic layout you need to know when to use, and when not to use" Blackletter, Decorative, Script, Serif, Transitional and other kinds of type. Has brief descriptions and illustrations.
What makes a typeface unique?
This is a brief discussion of how we distinguish similiar typefaces, classifications, and type characteristics.
This is a brief discussion of how we distinguish similiar typefaces, classifications, and type characteristics.