Text - Fonts Flashcards
SERIF
Has a small decorative flourished at the end of the strokes, curved heads and tails known as ‘serifs’.
Used for headings. o E.g. Times new roman and Georgia
may stand out in a body of text
has been theorised serifs make characters easier to recognise by giving the brain more
time to see the letters, therefore increasing reading speed for a reader or viewer increased
readability in print media
decreased readability on screen or digital media
SANS SERIF
Does not have decorative strokes (no ‘serifs’)
Used for headings and body paragraphs and for more modern designs.
characters have strokes of even widths
decreased readability in print media
increased readability on screen or digital media
can be perceived as being too informal o e.g. Arial and Verdana
DECORATIVE
Embellished font that is often used only for headings as they are usually harder to read.
exaggerated features such as serifs or swashes, or any font designed to be used as a heading. o They are engaging and artistic.
mostly unsuitable for use as body text.
They’re meant to be used in moderation, and to draw attention due to that very rationing of
their usage, such as in headlines, greeting cards, posters, brochures and advertisements.
they impart a sense of character to a text, and can even come to define the product
or even franchise.
