Serif vs. Sans Serif - Graphic Design Foundations: Typography

Introduction

• Typography Classification:
  • Serif and sans serif are the two basic categories of letter forms.
  • Typography has a system of classification similar to scientific systems for animals and plants.

Serif Typefaces

• Definition:

  • Serif typefaces have extenders, also known as little feet.
  • Serifs are evident in both capital and lowercase letters.

• Characteristics:

  • Footers are the serifs at the bottom of letters.
  • Angles of serifs, thickness, width, and shape can vary.
  • Differences in the shapes and weight of serifs affect the appearance of typeface when set for reading.

• Types of Serifs:

  • Bracketed Serifs:
    • Have a curved transition from the serif to the stem.
  • Unbracketed Serifs:
    • Have a sharp, 90-degree corner angle.
  • Slab Serifs:
    • Horizontal strokes (serifs) are the same width/weight as vertical strokes.

Sans Serif Typefaces

• Definition:

  • Sans serif typefaces are without serifs ("sans" means "without" in French).
  • Often referred to simply as "sans."

• Characteristics:

  • Sans serif typefaces have no serifs.
  • Despite differences, all sans serif typefaces share this common feature.

Importance in Design

• Learning to distinguish between different type styles helps in making intelligent design choices.
• Being a "type detective" helps in identifying different types of serifs and sans serifs, which is crucial for design projects.

Additional Resources

• Exercise Files:
  • Practice with files used in the course to enhance learning.
• Mobile Learning:
  • Courses can be downloaded for offline viewing on iOS or Android.