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Typography: Type ID

July 19, 2010

Identifying type by classification is essential to designers and non-designers alike

As a designer, it’s vital to be able to identify the different classes of type. It’s also important for the non-designer to have some knowledge of basic type classifications to aid in making decisions about what they would like to see in a particular project. Below is a basic run-down with a few tips to help you along the way.

Serif

Does it have those little extra lines (read: serifs) on the ends of the letter stems?
Is there a contrast between thick and thin strokes?

Answer: You are looking at serif type. The serifs help the eye carrying on from one letter to the next, which is especially helpful when reading long blocks of text. Serif type is commonly used in novels and magazines for its increased legibility. There are a few specific types of serifs – but to state it simply, they can be bracketed or un-bracketed (meaning there either is or is not a curved line connecting the stem of the letter to the serif).

Sans serif

Are the letters almost all equal weight?
Are there no serifs present?

Answer: Sans in french means ‘without’ so sans serif would mean ‘without serifs’. Perfect! Sans serifs are one of the most modern classifications of type and you’ll see examples of it anywhere from interstate signage to your computer keyboard. There are also a few more specific types of sans serifs such as humanist or grotesque which are categorized by the shapes of the letters and stroke weights.

Block serif

So your typeface looks like a serif, but it has heavier weight serifs – most likely equal (or close) to the weight of the letter itself. You are looking at a block (or slab) serif. This is a more common serif classification – and gives a modern twist on the traditional bracketed serif.

Script

Do the letters look like calligraphy or cursive writing?
Is there a contrast between thick and thin weights, as if someone were hand-writing the text?

Answer: Here you have a script. There are many varieties – from calligraphy to less traditional handwritten cursive typefaces. Usually scripts look better at larger sizes and aren’t used as frequently as text for an article.

–Jenni Sweitzer, Graphic Designer, Network Media Partners, Inc.

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