Each letter is completely scalable, based on the same vector formulae. If you have the Helvetica font data installed on your computer, you’ll be able to render the entire typeface. In pure computing terms, there actually isn’t any distinction between a font and a typeface. With the advent of digital typesetting, much of the hot metal terminology was maintained, but the context and the possibilities changed completely. Blocks of text were assembled letter by letter to form a page layout, which was then rolled with ink and pressed onto paper to make prints. In a box containing a specific font were two cases – one for capitals and one for small letters – which is where upper and lower case comes from. Fonts with a common design made up a typeface. Printers cast complete sets of metal letters to make up a font. The word font itself comes from the Middle French 'fonte', meaning cast in metal. The difference between a font and a typeface has its roots in the history of printing. MuirMcNeil’s Cut typeface is a modernist homage to 18th and 19th century typefaces such as Didot (Image credit: MuirMcNeil) If the font is the song, the typeface is the artist. For example, you might love the typeface Futura because of its modernist look, and so the font you used for the captions on your site is Futura Condensed Extra Bold 8 point. Then we refine it down to a specific font by setting its size, weight, style and sometimes the character set such as Roman, Cyrillic or Greek when we use it. We choose a typeface because of its common aesthetic qualities. Usually it doesn’t matter, but when the distinction is important it might help to look at it like this. “For most people these days, the terms ‘font’ and ‘typeface’ are often used interchangeably and most clients probably don’t know the difference either so when we’re presenting directly to them we use simple, straightforward terminology that doesn’t suggest we’re attempting to overcomplicate things.”Īnd he’s right. “It’s probably sacrilege but I’m not sure I’ve ever known the difference,” says Dave Sedgwick, founder of Studio DBD in Manchester. However, in most circumstances even experienced designers alternate between the two and we’re not ashamed to admit that it even happens right here on Creative Bloq.įor most people these days, the terms ‘font’ and ‘typeface’ are often used interchangeably Dave Sedgwick For example, EU law stipulates a minimum size for the text in the nutrition declaration. In the world of packaging, there are consumer protection regulations to adhere to. Studio DBD asked font foundry F37 to create a bespoke typeface for its Foilco rebrand (Image credit: Studio DBD)īrand guidelines (see our favourite example style guides) are another case in point with identity designers choosing typefaces in certain sizes and weights to support the brand aesthetic they want to portray.
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