Geogrotesque Slab Medium Font Free Download

[Domenec Reynolds]

Whenit comes to commonly known type categories, you might be able to think of sans, serif, script and maybe slab. Four categories would be simple and easy, but it would also make design boring. Thankfully there are many more categories and subcategories to explore.

Understanding classification also enables you to start noticing more subtle differences between typefaces. It helps you when describing a chosen font to a client, or commissioning a custom one; and enriches your design palette more holistically.

The first Roman type was derived from calligraphy, so the shape of letterforms is based on formal writing with a flat brush or a broad nib pen. The term Humanist has traditionally been used for serif typefaces, but nowadays there is also Humanist Sans.

Named after the two most notable type designers of the period between the late 1400s until the 1700s, French punchcutter Claude Garamond and Venetian printer Aldus Manutius. Garaldes are a step forward from Humanist, and are still influenced by formal calligraphy. Many technical improvements in printing and punchcutting during that period gave opportunities for refinement and production of many typefaces, revivals of which are still widely used for setting books or long texts. Also known as Aldine after Aldus Manutius; and sometimes Old-style, but this term is occasionally used for all Humanist, Garalde and Transitional typefaces.

Characteristics: These typefaces bear extremely high stroke contrasts. Unlike the serif typefaces from the previous groups, which are influenced by writing with a broad nib, the Didones are influenced by writing with a pointed nib held at a 90 degree angle, which produces very thin horizontal strokes. The contrast is completely vertical, with thin unbracketed serifs. This could be seen to be super fashionable and contemporary in 2017, but it in fact dates from the mid-18th century.

Examples: Ambroise, Arepo, Bodoni, Didot, FS Ostro, Walbaum, Scotch Roman

There are many different terms for Slab: Mechanical/Mechanistic, Antique or Egyptian. Associated with blocky thick rectangular serifs, they were originally created to attract attention in advertising, posters and large-scale media. They embody the spirit of the Industrial Revolution at the beginning of the 19th century, and were specifically designed for large display use. This category includes the typefaces with square unbracketed serifs (often called Egyptians) as well as bracketed ones (called Clarendons or Ionics).

Characteristics: A very large x-height and low stroke contrast, to fill up the space as much as possible. Besides the obvious difference in the bracketing, Egyptians are usually more squarish and mechanical, while Clarendons are more subtle and gentle in appearance.

Examples: Memphis, Rockwell, Clarendon, Sentinel, FS Silas Slab, FS Clerkenwell, FS Rufus

The successors of the later Grotesque typefaces, This is the category that includes some of the most popular sans serif typefaces to date: Helvetica and Univers (though the many different digital versions might not be as close to the originals as you might think.) They are designed with simplicity in mind, and are also the first typeface family with many variations of weights and widths, designed for different means of production.

Sans serifs constructed from simple geometric shapes. Geometric fonts might seem simple and easy to design, but in reality there are lots of subtle optical adjustments to make the shapes look pure and monolinear.

Characteristics: The letters are often connected to each other and slanted, like in cursive writing. They can be very formal, based on classical penmanship, or very casual. A lot of script typefaces require the type designer to draw several versions of each letter in order to replicate the dynamic and versatile look of handwriting or hand-lettering.

Also called Glyphic, these are typefaces which are influenced by the engraving or chiseling of characters in stone, as opposed to calligraphic handwriting. A lot of these Incised types are based on Roman inscriptions and might only contain capitals, such as Trajan, which is based on the lettering from the Trajan column. Others include lowercase as well.

Characteristics: They might be confused with some of the calligraphic based serif fonts, but the shapes of the Incised typefaces are derived from using a chisel to cut the letterforms into stone. In this case, the serifs are a result of the production process, not a design feature, and they are usually much smaller, or even just flares at the stroke endings.

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