DecorativeĪ decorative typeface uses a multitude of different elements, from eye-catching serifs and flourishes, to swirling elements to capture the attention of their audience.ĭecorative fonts are generally intended for smaller amounts of text than sans-serif or serif alternatives, because their complicated elements can make them a little harder to read.

Sans serif typefaces are often very easy to read and are common in the digital world. These typefaces eliminate the “serif” feet from the letters and create a more laidback image as a result. Sans serifĪ sans serif typeface is a more modern, amicable, and friendly option intended to make companies and brands seem more relaxed and informal. These are some of the more traditional typefaces available today, often associated with concepts like heritage, history, sophistication, and credibility. Serif typefaces are defined by the “serifs” or feet on various letters. There are many different styles of typeface, such as: Serif For example, if you look at the Arial font, you’ll notice a simple, sans-serif font with carefully-spaced curves and lines.Ī typeface defines the elements which make a set of characters unique, from specific serifs, to flourishes, and upper and lowercase letter balance. Typefaces and fonts: What is a typeface?Ī typeface is a specific set of design features chosen for a series of characters and letters. If this sounds complicated, let’s dive a little deeper. The list of names appearing when you click on this window are the “typefaces”, while the various elements surrounding the window, from the size of the type, to the bold, italic, underscore, or cross-through options, give you your alternate fonts. You can see the difference between a typeface and font by opening your Word document and clicking on the window that says something like “Arial” or “Calibri” However, we still use fonts in word processing and desktop publishing applications. Interestingly, there aren’t any distinctions between fonts and typefaces in computing terms, as if you have the Helvetica typeface installed on a Mac or computer, you can render it entirely in a multitude of different fonts, to suit various scales. While the digital landscape for typefaces means it’s no longer necessary to create metal blocks for printing in different fonts, designers still use these terms on a regular basis.ĭefining the “font” for a specific typeface helps to ensure brand professionals can convey the unique image of a company as accurately as possible.

They would need different “fonts” for italics, bold letters, and typefaces in different sizes. Printing companies cast entire sets of metal letters to make up a font. The word “font” comes from the French “fonte”, which means to “cast in metal”. The difference between a font and typeface was first established in the printing era. However, there are various “fonts” in the Times New Roman family. For instance, Times New Roman is a typeface, with a complete set of serif characters to choose from, and a consistent design ethos.

In simple terms, a typeface refers to a set of design features chosen for letters and other characters, while fonts refer to the variation in a size and weight of a specific typeface.Ī font exists as part of a typeface. The font vs typeface argument isn’t as complex as it might seem. Today, we’re going to be looking at the “typefaces versus font” debate in detail to help you better identify the two. They’re terms which companies need to define to ensure they maintain a consistent brand image across a multitude of mediums and channels. However, ask a professional designer “what’s the difference between font and typeface?” and they’ll often be able to give you a full explanation of the individual meanings.īoth typefaces and fonts have an important role to play in the design world. For the layman, it’s easy to use the two terms interchangeably to refer to the style or design of a particular set of characters on a screen. The “typeface vs font” debate is something you’re likely to stumble across if you pursue a career in graphic design or branding.

Typeface vs font definition