![]() But presentation plays a huge role in the way we perceive that content, which is why we design our apps and websites with such care. That same attention is often absent from our documents though, with many people resorting to the default typeface choices. Spending some time making informed choices about your document’s typography can elevate any written piece’s impact. We've show you many ways to make great documents in Word, Google Docs, and Pages, but without great typography choices, your documents will never be the best they could be. That's why in this tutorial, I’d like to offer you some jumping off points for selecting good typefaces that will help bring your written content to life. The two terms you’re used to seeing, font and typeface, are not interchangeable.Ī font is a file.įontsĪny discussion about typography must begin with a clarification. TTF file on your computer that you install and call upon to render the text in a piece of software. In the days of letterpressed type, a font was one specific variant of the type family (the Italic variant of Helvetica, for instance).Ī typeface is the actual typographic item being rendered by the font. It describes the entire family of fonts that make up a typographic work. MP3 file and the typeface is the actual song.ĭoes this matter much? Not really. Some old-school typographers might balk at the use of “font” where “typeface” is more appropriate, but I suspect their ire won’t trouble you much. ![]() I mention the distinction here only because most of what we’re discussing in this article is a high-level look at choosing and pairing typefaces the actual font file that you use isn’t the point. To return to the musical metaphor, we’re talking about how to make a great playlist, not whether it’s better to keep your music collection in MP3 or FLAC. We don’t need to have a deep understanding of the way typefaces are classified to make better use of them. If it interests you, there are many excellent resources available to introduce you to the world of type families and their history. It’s no Game of Thrones, but it is a fascinating part of design theory. Instead, we’ll simply stick to the basics: typefaces are most broadly categorized as either serif or sans serif. The difference lies at the end of each character’s strokes. The difference between serif and sans serif fonts lies at the ends of their letter forms.Ī serif typeface has small protruding elements that tend to give each character a more complex shape. Serif fonts are generally considered easier to read, as the serifs serve as visual lubricant, guiding eyes across letter forms more smoothly.Ī sans serif typeface does not have these extended elements, leaving letters looking more austere and pure. This look is in vogue at the moment, especially in web typography, and is appreciated for its minimalistic and assertive stance on a page. ![]() Selecting Typefaces Using System FontsĬhoosing a typeface is all about presenting your content in the most appropriate way. Long-form articles have different aesthetic requirements than brochures, and the medium itself-print vs. screen-also needs to be taken into consideration. One of the most important considerations when designing a document is information architecture: presenting the content in a way that clearly conveys its structure and hierarchy. Smart type choices can help make this scaffolding appear effortless.īefore we delve into the deep (and often expensive) world of professional fonts, let’s see what we can accomplish using the fonts provided on our computers by default. Many people make type choices starting from the headings, but typography is best established from the inside out: the body copy.
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