1. It’s important to understand the differ type terminology.
Do you know the difference between a font and a typeface? How
about a font and type family? What is a type style?
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type

2. A font, such as 10pt Adobe Garamond Bold, is a complete set of
characters for one typeface including upper case letters; lower case
letters; numerals; punctuation; and symbols that share a common
weight, width, and style.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type
 Font
 Typeface
 Type style

3. Typefaces are often called type families or font families. These are
collections of fonts that share an overall appearance and are
designed to be used together, such as Adobe Garamond.
.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type
 Font
 Typeface
 Type style

4. A type style is a variant version of an individual font in a font family,
for example, Adobe Garamond Bold or Italic. The actual names vary
from family to family. Typically, the Roman, or the Plain, member of
a font family is the base font, which may include type styles such as
regular, bold, demi, ultra, black, condensed expanded, light, italic,
and bold italic.
.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type
 Font
 Typeface
 Type style

5. There are three types of fonts:
•Serif
•Sans Serif
•Script
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type

6. Serif, or Roman, fonts have serifs, or
little feet, at the end of each stroke. This
convention began with the carving of
the Roman alphabet. It was necessary to
make a larger cut at the beginning of
each stroke to prevent chipping.
Examples of Serif Fonts:
Palatino, Times, and Baskerville.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type

7. Sans Serif fonts do not have serifs or
little feet at the end of each stroke. Sans
Serif fonts are more difficult to read
because there is no serif to lead the eye
from word to word.
Examples of Sans Serif Fonts:
Arial, Futura, and Helvetica.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type

8. Script, or Fancy, fonts evolved from hand
lettered manuscripts of medieval times.
Script fonts are difficult to read because
of the flourishes and adornments and
should not be used as body copy.
Examples of Script Fonts:
Edwardian Script, and Zapfino.
Type
WD131: Fundamentals of Design
Unit 6: Type
Module 2: Introduction to Classifications and Physical Characteristics
of Type