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Understanding Serif and Sans Serif Typography

Apr 16, 2025

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.