Blackletter, serif, sans serif, script, decorative, and symbol are the six basic font families for graphic design, but like all families, they become more diverse with every generation. Each font family has spawned thousands of children and grandchildren, each with their own unique look and personalities. For example, the letters below can be generally called "Serif"; but the example on the left is "Old-Style Serif," since the serifs end with a smooth curve and the example on the left is "Slab Serif," since the serifs end with a thick block.
| Serif Fonts | |
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| Old-Style | Slab |
Let's see if you can trace the family history of the following fonts in this activity, and name the font family each example belongs to.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- serif
- script
- sans serif
The lack of lines (serifs) at the ends of the letters shows that this is a sans serif font.
The lack of lines (serifs) at the ends of the letters shows that this is a sans serif font.
The lack of lines (serifs) at the ends of the letters shows that this is a sans serif font.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- blackletter
- script
- sans serif
While this font doesn't have serifs, it's meant to look like a person's handwriting. This makes it a script font.
While this font doesn't have serifs, it's meant to look like a person's handwriting. This makes it a script font.
While this font doesn't have serifs, it's meant to look like a person's handwriting. This makes it a script font.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- decorative
- sans serif
- blackletter
This font is meant to look like calligraphy, and is related to the blackletter family.
This font is meant to look like calligraphy, and is related to the blackletter family.
This font is meant to look like calligraphy, and is related to the blackletter family.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- decorative
- serif
- symbol
This font is full of signs, symbols, and arrows, and isn't designed to spell words as much as allow for unusual characters in typography.
This font is full of signs, symbols, and arrows, and isn't designed to spell words as much as allow for unusual characters in typography.
This font is full of signs, symbols, and arrows, and isn't designed to spell words as much as allow for unusual characters in typography.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- serif
- sans serif
- script
You can see the serifs on the bottom of the "y", the top of the capital "T", and almost everywhere else a line comes to an end.
You can see the serifs on the bottom of the "y", the top of the capital "T", and almost everywhere else a line comes to an end.
You can see the serifs on the bottom of the "y", the top of the capital "T", and almost everywhere else a line comes to an end.
What font family does the font below belong to?
- script
- blackletter
- decorative
All of the extra detail, flourishes, and spirals on this font show that it's made for decoration, not readability.
All of the extra detail, flourishes, and spirals on this font show that it's made for decoration, not readability.
All of the extra detail, flourishes, and spirals on this font show that it's made for decoration, not readability.
Summary
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