A typeface is a family of related fonts. And just like a family, typefaces comprise different members with distinct characteristics. There are regular-sized, heavy, tall, and small fonts. Condensed fonts are the taller and narrower members of the family.

What are Condensed Fonts?

As fonts build a typeface, their use is categorized based on their characteristics. A condensed font is considered a narrower version of a standard typeface. Its narrow width and tall characters make it a good choice for filling tight spaces or lines of type.

Due to their tall, narrow nature and because the letters are more closely spaced, condensed fonts are known to be more challenging to read than regular-sized fonts. However, this unique characteristic can be leveraged to make a lasting impression on readers.

Pros and Cons of Condensed Fonts

Typography can do a lot for graphic design, like influence, entice, and even put off audiences. That’s why it’s important to recognize its merits and uses. Whether you’re working on an infographic, signage, web design, or any graphic design project, you can find a use for condensed fonts. 

However, you must understand a font’s strengths and weaknesses before using it. Here are the pros and cons of condensed fonts you should consider:

Pros:

• Save space — If you’re working on a project requiring a limited line or space, condensed fonts are a viable option. You can put up to twice as much copy in the same space using condensed fonts than regular typefaces.
• Good for subheadings — Using subheaders is a great way to break the monotony of text in a long piece of writing. Combining headers and condensed fonts can give your audience a much-needed breather when facing a block of text in your design.
• Can decorate headlines — Condensed fonts can add visual appeal to a site or page. If used with few words, the tall letters can make headlines pop. This is a great way to make headlines or short lines of text on a page more noticeable, especially when intentionally spaced out.
• Provide contrast — Tall lettering can emphasize an idea or tagline in graphic design. It can also be used to make a comparison between important points and less significant ones. Using a different font for titles can make your website stand out and appear less serious.
• Introduce modern visual elements — Due to their tall and narrow nature, condensed fonts can add a modern or stylish look to your design. They can be great for stand-alone texts that can help grab your audience’s attention.

Cons:

• Unreadable with a small size — If you’re working with lots of text, you might want to avoid using them. Using small sizes and cramming as much text into a line as possible spells disaster for your site’s readability.
• Can make lines look cluttered — When used correctly, condensed fonts can bring a short line of text to life. If overused, it can make even a short sentence look like a chore. Stringing too many words using a condensed font can make your design look cluttered and disorganized.

Examples of Condensed Fonts

Some examples include:

• Helvetica Condensed
• League Gothic
• Arial Narrow
• Garamond Narrow
• Futura Condensed

There are more examples out there which can be downloaded for free. It’s wise to look at which fonts you can use for websites, products, and commercial purposes since some have specific permissions. Other fonts for desktop and web use must also be purchased for various applications.

Tips and Tricks

There are ways to leverage condensed fonts to improve legibility and design styles. You just need to know when and how to use them to make your work stand out. Here are some tips if you’re planning to use them:

1. Use condensed fonts sparingly

Condensed fonts are a great way to accentuate or complement your site’s overall design. They can do more than just emphasize lines you want to pop out from the screen. As stated above, tall and narrow fonts can be used for headers, subheaders, and titles.

It can be easy to get too excited when using a font for the first time. Limit the use of condensed fonts to maximize their effect. Sometimes, less really is more.

2. Increase the size

Condensed fonts get their shock value from their height. Take advantage of this and increase the size appropriately. Scale your titles or interesting lines to make them look appealing. 

Increasing your font size is an effective way to emphasize a section or line of text. Remember to add a little spacing between the letters to account for the font’s tight tolerances.

3. Choose color combinations that work

Your font choice is already bold and in-your-face. Use color combinations that complement it to bring out the letters more. You want your audience to see the text and what it says. Putting too much color or using the wrong shades can make your design awkward.

4. Use plain backgrounds

As you try to make your design stand out, you might be tempted to add a few elements to the background that can add clutter and noise. Steer clear from busy backgrounds and use a plain one instead.

You already have tall letters to work with. Make those the prominent elements of your design instead of adding a background so tacky that it chases away your site’s visitors.

5. Use in tables or charts

Condensed fonts can add neatness to a design if used properly. Try using them if you’re working on an infographic, table, or chart. These fonts can organize your text and optimize your space to make the content easier to digest.

Again, use a few words for different blocks of text and increase the font size if needed. Keep things tidy and sophisticated, especially when working with facts and figures.

A Time and Place for Everything

Like with most things, there’s a time and place for using condensed fonts. Knowing when and how to use them will enable you to bring life to a line of text or create a story using your font choice.

Condensed fonts have their merits. You must understand what they can do and know the appropriate time to use them. Try using them on trial projects and see which fonts and approaches work for you. There’s no harm in trying.

The post What are Condensed Fonts and Why You Should Use Them appeared first on Designerly.

One of the best ways to incorporate good vibes and nostalgia into a design is using an 8-bit font. They evoke whimsy and fun that sans and serif will never be able to compete with. Despite 8-bit’s apparent rigidity, they’re wonderfully versatile and distinct. These are some of the best 8-bit fonts on the market with varying price ranges. Challenge yourself to incorporate them into your designs and advertisements — even if it isn’t for a video game or arcade.

1. Daydream

The font looks like what it claims — it doesn’t have the stark angles of traditional video games but rounded edges that look like a video game daydream. The softer edges combined with the identifiable square edges resemble Nintendo clouds. It’s an ideal option if you’re looking for something more lighthearted, whether for a book jacket or banner ad.

Cost: Free

2. Early GameBoy

Nintendo fans would recognize these pixels immediately. As the name suggests, the font replicates the style of the original GameBoy from Nintendo. Even if you never played one yourself, the quintessential thin and thick weighted letters are easy to read yet playful. It includes an entire number set with limited special characters, but it’s enough for more minimal designs.

Cost: Free

3. Pixtile

This font marries a few classic hobbies — video gaming and sewing. The shapes resemble old cross-stitching and textile patterns, which gives it its punny name. It is more malleable to a wide range of design intents because it isn’t inherently associated with video games and merely consists of pixelated squares. 

Cost: Free

4. 8-Bit Arcade

The name of this one hints more about its on-the-nose inspiration. You could see this appear on 80’s video game cabinets in retro films or at your nearest barcade. The 8-bit arcade-style is a dream for aspiring video game designers trying to keep the classic style alive and well. It maintains a strictly uppercase lineup with bold, wide shapes that work well for outlining or jazzing up with color.

Cost: Free

5. Retro Kiddo

Imagine you blended 80’s video games with a 90’s aesthetic — in that beautiful stylistic medium, you get Retro Kiddo. The kit comes with multiple color variants in eye-catching color palettes. One is seafoam letters with yellow and purple outline detailing, and the other is yellow letters with more blurred pink and purple outlines. Designers have all the vectors they need to craft a perfect t-shirt or social media banner.

Cost: $15 for desktop

6. Birch Leaf

Imagine you put in a floppy disk or CD-ROM, depending on your age. You open a fantasy game that starts in a tavern, and it regales you about your adventure. This is the font that represents that energy. The designer of Birch Leaf wanted to exude that vintage charm with its 8-bit style and curly accents. This font contains upper and lowercase letters. The flourish is mainly in the capitals, allowing more outstanding readability. 

Cost: Free

7. Wayfarer’s Toy Box

Wayfarer’s Toy Box has enough intrigue to separate it from other 8-bit fonts. Its interesting angles and unintuitive directions make it unique while still being approachable. The modern style makes it feel old and new at the same time, a perfect bridge for designers who want the aesthetic without going too classic.

Cost: Free for personal, subscription-based pricing for obtaining a commercial license 

8. Vermin Vibes 1989

Vermin Vibes 1989 has an edginess other 8-bit fonts just don’t have. The sleek angles give designers more options on how to angle it. You could make the font look good horizontally or turn it against triangle vectors for an even cooler appearance. The sharpness of the letters makes almost any orientation feel intentional. The white space in the E’s and R’s make it easier on the eyes, especially with the font’s thickness. 

Cost: Free for personal, subscription-based pricing for obtaining a commercial license 

9. Johto

Named after the original location of Pokémon, the Johto font resembles the old games while being simplistic enough not to put itself into a box. Avid gamers will recognize the indiscriminate pixels by their width and shape, but for regular observers, it is a simplistic 8-bit font that’s easy to manipulate. The font family has several variants, including Mono and Sans Regular, if you’re curious how it looks with different spacing and height.

Cost: $21 per style

10. 04b_30

Meet the brainchild of bubble letters and 8-bit. It has similar roundness to Daydream, but 04b_30 is straighter and has details that make it appear like the bubble shapes have a reflection for more personality. The font shows off its quirky numbers and how they differ in size from the letters. Its peculiar proportions add pizzazz to any design, immediately making it memorable to any viewer.

Cost: Free

11. Pixel 2

Pixel 2 is a highly customizable font, which lends itself to be slightly more restrictive. It is a scalable vector graphics (SVG) font. 

SVGs are only compatible with particular versions of Photoshop and some Mac computers, so check these specs against your preferred machine and tools first before downloading. Despite the limitations, the format allows for more creative edits in its grid-style letters. Add gradients for compelling branding and drop shadow accents to make it stand out on any background.

Cost: Requires subscription to download

12. Minecraft

It is another font that speaks for itself — the famous font used in Minecraft. Just because it is for a specific game doesn’t mean you can’t find creative ways to employ it in a design. If anything, it will make game-savvy customers attach themselves to art because of the association. Much like a few other fonts on this list, it is plain enough to where it doesn’t impact the viewer’s experience of the font if they don’t know where it is from. It has more memorable characters than other 8-bit fonts, so if you need that, this is the font for you.

Cost: Free

13. Crang

The left-justified lines of Crang give it structure and flair. Similar to Vermin Vibes 1989, it leverages angles to give it character. However, this font is thinner. It doesn’t take up as much space on the page as other 8-bit font styles. It has a whopping 693 characters, including every accent and symbol you could ever want.

Cost: Free

14. Pixel Bit

Pixel Bit gives an airy, sci-fi twist to the 8-bit structure. It blends thick, black lines with extra pixels that make the letters look like they are dissolving. They are spaced far enough apart to where the stylistic choice doesn’t detract from its clarity. The package includes the option to make the extra pixels come from any direction. It is perfect for merchandise, or even light animations that could make the pixels look like they’re floating. It is an innovative version of 8-bit fonts designers could have a lot of fun with, especially with personalizing the floating pixels.

Cost: Requires subscription to download

Get Retro With a Nostalgic 8-Bit Font

8-bit fonts are not exclusive to video games but give that comforting atmosphere. It also encompasses more than squares and sharp edges, though these are trademarks. Modern reimaginings give this style new life for designers inside and outside the gaming industry for never-before-seen interpretations of the classic style. How creative can you be?

The post 14 8-Bit Fonts for Classic Video Game Aesthetics appeared first on Designerly.

What is fascinating about neon fonts is that any font could turn into a glowing, hot pink sign if you are a skilled enough designer. The standard serif could turn heads in front of a nightclub with enough pizazz. However, there are some quintessential elements to neon signs that many recognize, which we will analyze today. 

These neon fonts will provide that classic, 80’s vibe you’re going for, especially if you have a client looking to light up their customers with intrigue and excitement. 

1. Bayshore

It is easy to imagine this font as shining glass tubes. It has the informal, handwritten vibes that give it an easy-on-the-eyes feel. It is stylized enough to where it won’t confuse readers, and vanilla enough to be used for designs outside of neon. You could easily see this as the title for a retro film or spread out across the chest on an awesome band tee.

Cost: Free

2. Neon Lights

You can’t get more on the nose than a font called Neon Lights. This font has a more angular, bubble-letter look. To make it interesting, it has appealing  lines in letters like G and N. The font has special characters like several currency symbols and letters with every accent you could ask for. There are no lowercase options in this font set, but why would you want them when the font stands out so gloriously in capital letters?

Cost: Free

3. Neonisans Monoline

If you’re comparing the first two fonts on this list, this is a delightful blend of both. It isn’t angular as you would expect certain neon sights, but it has defined lines with nice curves to make it modern — as the name suggests — while being nostalgic. It has upper and lowercase options that seamlessly connect through lower lines. This font is perfect for translating into an actual neon sign. The numbers and special characters do not do this, but if you’re using this font to make an actual sign, it should make the process simpler.

Cost: Free

4. Selfie 

The bold and curvy lines of Selfie would make a memorable neon font design. Though most of the images demonstrate the font slanted, it is flexible. Use this to craft a flyer for an upcoming coffee shop gig or an ad for the front pages of your website discussing your next sale. The extended font family for commercial use includes Selfie Light, Standard, Black, Printed, and Flag variants.

Cost: Free for personal use and $19.80 per style for commercial licenses.

5. Lost Wages

Lost Wages brings the tube-like style mixed with a little space-age inspiration. It comes at sharp angles with sweeping curves. A straight line above the lowest point pierces the letters for an eye-catching look. The pack has fewer special characters — only the lone ampersand. However, it has a variety of accented letters so you can craft a sci-fi book jacket or thematic restaurant sign with this hip neon font.

Cost: Free

6. Hastron

This unassuming script font looks like it could be in the same family as Bayshore but with thinner lines. Hastron is not as wide as some other neon fonts, giving you more options for utilizing space. The cursive handwriting is perfect for beachy tourist attractions or as a header for a website. 

Cost: Free

7. Fuse

The image for this font says it all — it looks great in every color, especially with the rectangular border on it to highlight its style. The gaps and multi-line design makes it one of the more unique options on this list. Because of the way it’s laid out, even lights won’t blur its edges. 

Cost: Free

8. Neon Ballroom

Neon Ballroom is like the sibling to Fuse, but it is filled in. It also takes a more modern twist with the cut-off lines within letters, creating more distinct visuals. Because of this layout, it is easy to conceptualize how the colors would radiate from the center lines to give that neon font aesthetic you’re going for.

Cost: Free for personal use

9. Zapped Sticks

Imagine neon lights stacked on top of each other — there you have the appropriately jazzy Zapped Sticks. Despite its trippy appearance, when you put lights around the letters, it shines wonderfully and distinctively. The layered effect provides a pop to standard neon fonts, making it jump off the page with more dimension — especially if you’re using this in print or digital mediums.

Cost: Free

10. Lineat III

Lineat III is ready to provide neon lights to every industry. The design is intended for everyone, from sports and entertainment to industrial niches. The fun-filled lines end in sharp corners like a curling wave to give it more nuanced interest. The font looks good surrounded in neon colors and lights or plain and by itself. 

Cost: Free for personal use and starting at $19 for commercial use

11. Yasemin

This font is more decorative than your standard swirling, script fonts. It has an edge appearance. Letters have lingering lines, extending some across the length of the word. Some of the tails interweave and all of the capital letters have curls that wrap around the left side. Imagine this font on a stylish business card or gift bag, and it would grip anyone’s attention.

Cost: $24

12. Las Enter

The name of this font does make it feel like it would be the sign welcoming tourists to Las Vegas. It is one of the most voguish of the bunch, looking good in all differentiations, whether it’s italics, bold, or underlined. Angle it however you want to excite viewers into thinking they’re about to head into a party, regardless of what this neon font says.

Cost: Free for personal use or $69 for a commercial license

13. VV Neonica

This isn’t just a single font — it’s a whole collection. In the display image, you can see how one font translates to provide variation in a single design. The font package also includes the decorative elements like clouds and guitars to dress the background of your design. If you’re looking for a comprehensive package, this is the neon font for you.

Cost: $1.83 per style

14. Electric Holic

This unique neon light font includes dots to add extra glitz to the design. It looks more electric, resembling circuitry. The font works best in larger sizes so viewers can see the finer details, so large signage and advertisements are the way to go when using this neon font.

Cost: Free for personal use and commercial use requires a subscription

Jazz Up Creations With Neon Fonts

Neon fonts are a solid, thrilling choice for appropriate designs. With a few curves, a gentle script could provide a flashy elegance. More squared-off edges give that futuristic aesthetic a client might crave. Whatever the mission, these neon fonts deliver variety and inspiration, whether you’re making a traditional sign or an innovative banner ad. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider adding an animation to make the font glow literally as viewers enjoy its radiance.

The post 14 Neon Fonts to Light Up Your Design appeared first on Designerly.

What are the best fonts for flyers you can find on Google Fonts? If you’ve used any Google Drive apps, like Docs or Slides, you’ve probably noticed you can use thousands of free fonts directly through Google. 

This is a great resource for creating flyers, but how do you choose the best fonts from so many options? This guide will get you started. 

How to Choose Good Fonts for Flyers

How do you choose a good font for your flyers? While font style varies depending on what you’re advertising, a few rules of thumb are always helpful. 

For example, you usually want to choose two fonts: one for your headline or splash text and one for everything else. This helps the highlight of your flyer stand out, such as the name of your event. 

The display font for your headline should be eye-catching but clear. Some stylized fonts may be less readable but can uniquely convey the type of event, product or service you’re advertising. For example, the Creepster font below is perfect for advertising a scary movie night on campus. 

The display font also has the important job of conveying the tone of your flyer. Different fonts subconsciously indicate different emotions for readers, such as casual or formal. Consider how a font makes you feel when you’re trying to choose the best font for your flyer. 

The body text and subtitle of your flyer should be in a more neutral font that doesn’t distract from your big headline text. Avoid using stylized fonts for this text and prioritize readability. 

Top 10 Display Fonts for Flyers on Google Fonts

The display font will be for your flyer’s headline, so it’s the most important one you’ll pick out. Google Fonts has some great options for headline text. We’ve selected ten of the very best, including some unique stylized options. 

1. Bungee/Bungee Shade

Bungee and its cousin Bungee Shade are both bold, eye-catching fonts that are great for headline text. They’re modern and blocky with a slightly edgy, fun aesthetic. This font looks great in colors, too, due to the thick, rounded letter shapes. 

2. Lobster Two

Lobster Two is a lovely font for flyers that want a certain type of cozy, elegant aesthetic. This font is well-suited for advertising things like restaurants or book clubs. Cursive is a distinctive choice for flyers, so use it sparingly and make it large enough to maintain readability. 

3. Concert One

Concert One is a clean, rounded font that stands out well without compromising readability. It’s clear, welcoming and modern. This is a good font for all types of flyers, with a bold but neutral tone. Concert One is positive, yet professional, making it a good font for advertising a business or professional event.

4. Playfair Display

Playfair Display is a great font for flyers that need a bit of a sophisticated touch or old-time charm. This serif font is perfect for formal events, such as formal dinners or meetings. It is also good for evoking feelings of 19th and 20th century nostalgia, such as for screenings of classic black-and-white films. 

5. Creepster

Creepster is the perfect font for advertising all types of spooky events and goods! This unique display font is perfect for flyers for scary movie nights or Halloween parties. It is inspired by classic horror film poster fonts and looks great in different colors. 

6. Permanent Marker

Permanent Marker is a good font for flyers with a more casual, laid-back or sporty aesthetic. It’s great for everything from rock bands to football practice or car washes. With its hand-written shapes, Permanent Marker tends to look best in black, but can also shine in white or red. 

7. Hammersmith One

Hammersmith One is another great all-purpose font. This is one of the best fonts for flyers due to its clean, readable shapes and bolded lettering. It’s distinctive and eye-catching but still easy to read. It looks good in any color, as well. 

8. Caprasimo

Caprasimo is one of the most fun fonts for flyers. It evokes classic fonts commonly used in the 70s and 80s, giving it a warm, nostalgic feel. Caprasimo looks best with a normal letter case, rather than all-caps. It’s great for retro-themed events or anything fun, casual and upbeat. 

9. Rubik Mono One

Rubik Mono One is one of the best fonts for flyers due to its eye-catching all-caps design. It’s a more serious font, but works for many types of events, goods and services. It’s perfect for your flyer’s main title or splash text and works well in almost any color. 

10. Suez One

Suez One is a blend of Hammersmith One and Caprasimo in its design. It is a good all-around display font for flyers, with bolded serif shapes that retain readability. Much like Caprasimo, it evokes feelings of fun and relaxation, making it best for casual events.

Subtitle and Text Fonts

Along with a display font, your flyer also needs a secondary font for your subtitle and any additional text. This font should be different from your display font to help the main title of your poster stand out more. 

Google has some great free fonts for flyers for this category, as well. Poppins, Raleway, Josefin Slab/Sans, Epilogue and Petrona are all great choices. 

When choosing a subtitle or text font for your flyer, choose something emotionally neutral. With these fonts it’s always best to prioritize readability since the text of your flyer needs to convey important details like price or meeting time. 

With some designs it can also help to match the genre of your font, such as serif, sans serif, slab serif and monospace. For instance, if your display font is sans serif, it may be a good idea to choose another sans serif font for your flyer text. 

This is a general recommendation, though, not a hard-and-fast rule. Unique display fonts in particular can often be matched with any neutral text font.

Additionally, it is also a good idea to print your subtitle or text font in a neutral color, usually black. White can also work if you have a dark background on your flyer. If you are going to use a colored font, try to use it for your display font to further emphasize the title of your flyer. 

Top Fonts for Flyers on Google Fonts

Google Fonts is a great place to freely and easily find fonts for flyers, posters, pamphlets and more. There are thousands of fonts to choose from, so our team selected ten of the very best, plus five neutral fonts for flyer subtitles and text. These fonts are great for advertising a wide range of events, products and services with eye-catching creativity. 

The post 10 Best Fonts for Flyers on Google Fonts appeared first on Designerly.

While Brush Script is a font type, the term has expanded to include various handwritten styles. These stylistic characters can invoke a sense of hominess, casualness or elegance. It all depends on the typeface used and the context surrounding it. However, while they can include beautiful strokes and unique letters, a brush script font can get hard to read. All those flourishes can be a bit too much for the eye.

If there is one thing a good graphic designer knows, it’s that fonts must be readable. After all, what’s the point of having text in a design if no one can tell what it says? A font may have style, but if it’s illegible, there’s not much point in using it. Here are some great choices for brush script fonts, as well as tips for using them.

Your Best Choices for Brush Script Fonts

A good typeface is legible and stands out. Here are six brush script font options that fit the bill.

Darkline

For a font that looks breezy but is still easy to read, check out Darkline. It’s a clean typeface that still has the casualness of brushstrokes. It also goes well with blockier fonts, meaning it can have uses in many contexts as a title or subtext. Subtype Studio created the font and sells the desktop license for $18, along with multiple price points for other uses. Consider using this diverse font for the focal point of a design or in the accents.

Souther

Souther is a bit cleaner of a cursive-inspired font but still maintains that brushstroke quality that makes these handwritten fonts so attractive. It also has different options for ligatures so the letters remain legible and cohesive. Craftsupplyco — the font’s creator — recommends Souther for organizations that want an upscale and chic vibe. Access the typeface and unlimited downloads of other assets on Envato for $16.50 a month.

Bucharest

Need a wholly cursive font that’s handwritten but still legible? Try out Bucharest by Nerd Studio. This typeface combines the elegance and flourish of brush script fonts but remains legible. The creator clearly put care into spacing each letter enough to feel natural but still be easily readable. Graphic designers can purchase this great font on So Fontsy for $15.

Hey August

When most people imagine handwritten fonts, they picture cursive. However, only some people want or can even read cursive. In such a case, Hey August by Krurasan is an excellent option. The thick and bold typeface gives the impression of someone writing with a chisel-tip marker. This makes it easy to read but still includes the flourish of a brushstroke. If that sounds appealing, users can access the font for free on Dafont.

Belfast

For a less-rounded cursive font, Belfast is a fantastic option. The typeface by Hustle Supply Co. feels casual, but the slightly more angular letters make the font clean and adult. The creator also made Belfast highly customizable, with 54 swashes, 26 alternate lowercase characters, alternates and discretionary ligatures. They also note how many uses there are, from product packaging to cards. Get the font for $15 on YouWorkForThem.

Sophia

Sometimes, designers need a cutesy font they can rely on for clients who want to attract youthful clientele. Sophia is a great option for these cases. It’s a thicker brush script font, which makes it legible yet clean. The typeface has loops in the main lettering that make it feel jovial, along with curls designers can opt to put at the beginning and end of a phrase. Check out Sophia on CreativeBooster and download the font for free.

How to Find Good Brush Script Fonts

The fonts above are just six of the many thousands of brush script fonts available. While designers may find luck with those, they may also wish to use a handwritten font of their own. Here are a few tips on picking out a wonderful brushstroke typeface.

Check the Ligatures

While standard ligatures are there for legibility, discretionary ligatures are stylistic marks that are purely there for aesthetics. For example, some fonts may connect the lines on two “f”s that are next to each other. Before deciding to download a font, it’s important to check those ligatures. Do they draw too much attention, making people pay less attention to what the graphics are saying? Are they opting for style over legibility so the text is harder to read?

Instead of relying on one opinion, ask a few friends or fellow designers what they think about the font’s readability. If the ligatures are making the copy confusing, it’s not the best choice.

See If There Are Alternate Characters

Alternate characters are especially important for cursive fonts. In such a typeface, an “e” at the end of a word will look different from one in the middle. When selecting one of these typefaces, check to see if the creator included alternate characters. These will make the font much more cohesive, often heightening the readability.

On the other hand, some typefaces might not include those alternates. Does that fact impact how the font looks? Is the kerning awkward or does it still suit the content? Some alternates may also introduce issues that affect the comprehension of the project. Again, it helps to ask others for their opinions so multiple viewpoints can chime in.

Assess the Weight

Lesser font weights can strongly affect how legible a font is. While a thinner typeface may have visual appeal to the designer, they should judge if the weight will affect the reader. Is the font so thin and loopy that it becomes difficult to read? If the copy will display somewhere, does distance affect the legibility? Different weights will be appropriate for various scenarios, so judge how size and display will factor in.

Double Check for Unintended Meanings

Part of the appeal of brush script fonts is their flourishes. The curves and quick strokes make the typography appear casual or high end. However, all those additions to the standard can cause a piece of text to look like it’s saying something else. Google provides multiple examples of awkward kerning or font styles that make logos, ads, and home decor have an often unfortunately humorous second meaning.

Before sending a project to a client, check with many people to ensure the font doesn’t accidentally make the copy say anything crude or make no sense. A designer will know what the title or body text is supposed to say, but asking others for their first impression helps ensure the design is as straightforward as possible. It also prevents silly or potentially offensive mistakes.

Keeping Your Brush Script Font Readable

Above all, when using text in a design, ensuring everything is legible is critical. Typefaces with flourishes like brush script fonts are beautiful but can introduce readability issues. Additionally, the adjusted kerning and unique characters can make text unintentionally say something funny or uncouth. Double or even triple checking with others is vital to picking a readable yet stylistic.

Check out the six fonts listed above for intricate yet legible brushstroke fonts. If those don’t appeal to the designer or client, use the tips to pick out a suitable, similar typeface. With the proper attention, these flowier fonts can become clear and gorgeous.

The post Brush Script Font: The Best Readable Options appeared first on Designerly.

Your website design is often the first impression potential clients have of your business. Finding the best font for a header shows your personality as a brand but is readable and builds trust is a big hill to climb. The best fonts for headers may have been used so many times you feel they are overdone and you want something a bit different.

Thankfully, we’ve done a lot of the research for you over the years, stayed up-to-date on new releases and trends and have a lot of ideas about which fonts work well for headers and how to pair different ones for an engaging look that draws readers in.

We’ve included the best fonts for headers that you likely have seen and heard of many times. However, we also added some new ones you may not know. Our favorite fonts to use in website headers, but that also work in headers for social media and emails, include the following:

1. Arial

In a previous study by Smashing Magazine, researchers found 80% of sites they studied used one of the first three fonts we’ll list here. These fonts come preinstalled with programs such as Adobe, Canva and Microsoft Suite. Another 20% used Helvetica as an alternative. 

Arial and the other two fonts are also highly readable at various sizes. Arial is defined as a neo-grotesque sans serif typeface. Robin Nicholas and Patricia Saunders designed the font. Arial released in 1982 through Monotype. Many pointed to the similarities to Helvetica. 

The curves of the letters are soft but structured. End strokes are diagonal, which creates a less computerized look than some other sans serif fonts. Arial is often used in presentations, magazines and newspapers. It scales up or down equally well. It’s a perfect basic font for header text, including menu lettering. 

2. Georgia

We’d be remiss if we didn’t include Georgia in our list of best fonts for headers. The font comes pre-packaged with many programs. 

Georgia is a serif font that looks a bit formal. The font was initially compatible with Windows and Mac computers, creating a sort of cult following amongst designers. 

The font works well for bank websites, luxury products and wedding services. Depending on your clientele, photographers might also benefit from using Georgia in their headers. 

Variations of the strokes on various portions of letters give the font some definition that has an almost calligraphic look. Some of the letters blend into one another for continuity. You might also notice the lowercase letters have a tall x-height, filling space and giving the font a unique appearance. 

3. Verdana

Verdana is called a humanist sans serif font. Matthew Carter and Thomas Rickner joined forces to create the beautiful structure for Microsoft. 

Pixel patterns create a hand-crafted look to ensure users don’t confuse some of the letters that look similar to one another in lowercase, such as “i,” “l” and the number one. If you work with the font frequently, you likely realize the dot over the letter “i” is square. Such minute details avoid reader confusion and improve comprehension. However, the font can present some kerning challenges thanks to some letters being sider than others. 

Verdana is frequently used for headlines. You may need to work a bit longer to get the spacing figured out, but the end result will be an elegant and eye-catching headline for your site. 

4. Helvetica

Another font commonly listed in groupings of best fonts for headers is Helvetica. We wanted to include it because it’s like an old friend you don’t just abandon as new things come into your life. This will be the last of our popular fonts. The rest will focus on lesser known options. 

Eduard Hoffmann and Max Miedinger designed Helvetica in 1957 in Switzerland. It is another neo-grotesque sans serif typeface. 

The font’s design is meant to be neutral and not evoke emotions in the reader. Helvetica is frequently used by designers and large corporations. Terminations are either vertical or horizontal without the slants of some other san serifs. Fortunately, the font is easily adaptable to both Windows and Mac operating systems and translates well on all screen sizes. 

5. Isadora

If you’re seeking something a bit thinner and less formal looking, Isadora is a fun font you can utilize in your headers. It comes in a variety of weights, so select the one that looks the best with your background and other elements. 

Pictured above is Isadora Light, which features thin lines and slight serifs on some terminations. Note how swoopy and perfect the lowercase “a” is. The typeface reminds one of beautiful handwritten notes or informal invitations to parties. 

6. Prossima Moda

If you really want to use a script but you know it won’t translate well on mobile devices, try something like this font for your website header. It is a newer font but quite unique in its ligatures and terminations. 

Prossima Moda is a modern display font that speaks to sophistication and informality at the same time. The contrast within the font gives it some mystery so the reader is never sure what the next character might do. 

It hints at an air of romance, which would make it perfect for wedding websites, dating apps and romance novel covers. 

How to Pair Best Fonts for Headers

Although you might be tempted to get fancy and add in some decorative or script fonts, proceed with caution when designing for the web. If someone accesses your site on a mobile device, will the text still be readable at smaller sizes or will letters become skewed and challenging to read? 

Research shows around 383.4 million cellular connections in the United States in 2023. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of active mobile devices grew by 113.1%. It’s quite likely many of your users visit your site via a smaller screen than a desktop. Make sure your headers are readable no matter what method consumers use to access your pages.

Create Your Own Style — The Best Font for a Header

The best fonts for headers are the ones that speak to your personality as a brand. While the list above is an excellent starting point, seek out new fonts and established ones and try different combinations until you hit on the most aesthetically pleasing but functional design possible.

The post How to Select the Best Fonts for a Header appeared first on Designerly.

From song lyrics penned in delicate ink to loud, unmistakable phrases, tattoos say a lot about a person — sometimes quite literally. But beyond the overt text, font choices play a huge part in how people interpret a tattoo. A love note printed in all caps on a typewriter reads very differently than a handwritten, cursive script in which the I’s are dotted with hearts. Here are the 10 best tattoo fonts for text tattoos, plus tips on how to use them. 

1. Cattedrale

A 2019 U.S. survey found that lettering tattoos were the most popular choice, with 38% of respondents saying they liked them. But the letters don’t even have to be easily readable to make a great tattoo.

With Cattedrale, legibility takes a backseat to visual appeal. Bold, ornate and just a little rough around the edges, it’s reminiscent of rock and roll logos and medieval texts. 

Many classic chest tattoos use this font or a similar black-letter style. This Gothic script is perfect for large, single-word tattoos such as names or qualities a person believes in. Smaller designs would likely be blurry or difficult to read, making the font best suited for large body pieces. It works well in both uppercase and lowercase lettering. 

2. Dancing Script

This delicate cursive font is delightfully feminine. It looks best in all-lowercase lettering, mimicking a person’s loopy cursive while still being clear and precise. The font has a somewhat hushed feel — almost like reading someone’s diary — and it can work very well for fine-line tattoos. 

Dancing Script is great for song lyrics, inspirational quotes or single words. It could even work for a large block of text, such as a paragraph from a favorite book.

3. AZ Sailor Tattoo 

One of the most recognizable tattooing fonts, AZ Sailor Tattoo features blocky letters with dark shading in their lower half. It mimics pre-World War II sailor ink and has a very classic, almost hand-drawn feel.

Consequently, most people use it alongside traditional motifs like a sailing ship, deck of cards, rose, swallow, or dagger. Another common use for it is on the classic heart tattoo with the word “MOM” written in all caps across the front. These designs often feature bold green and red shading. 

The letters in this font are so rectangular and precisely shaded that they’re basically tiny drawings. That makes AZ Sailor Tattoo best suited for single words paired with an art piece rather than full sentences. 

4. Courier

Courier stands out as one of the best tattoo fonts thanks to its legibility and clean lines. Tattoos written in this script look fresh from a typewriter, making it a great choice for quotes, phrases or names. It’s so easy to read that it even works for longer blocks of text.

Many people stick with black, lowercase lettering when using Courier to lean into the typewriter effect. The font also works well for numbers. Bold designs and bright colors can easily overpower the delicate lettering, so it looks best on bare patches of skin. Tattoos written in this font are typically standalone designs. However, some people frame the text with drawings. 

5. Lile Dahliya

This classic calligraphy font is refined, airy and elegant. It features gaudy flourishes and broad curves akin to a countess’ autograph — it would be easy to replicate with a genuine pheasant plume pen. 

This script is perfect for immortalizing someone’s name or a single word in a minimalist design. The thin, intricate lines make it best suited for a medium to large tattoo, as the ink spreading in a smaller design might make the text illegible over time. 

6. Hello Sailor

As the name implies, this is another old-school sailor tattoo font. People commonly pair this all-uppercase text with classic designs like tigers, flowers, mermaids, skulls, and diamonds. Traditional tattoos usually include the text on a banner or ribbon beneath, above, or wrapping around the drawing.

The lines in Hello Sailor are thin and very legible. However, the letters stand out for their curves and unusual, hand-drawn serifs, with many letters bearing serifs on their left side. 

It’s hard to go wrong with this font. In general, it may not work well with longer quotes, since the letters themselves are quite decorative and can take up a lot of space. It’s best for single words or short phrases. 

7. Secret Society

This vintage, hand-drawn serif font is gorgeously Southern — it would look right at home on an old whiskey label. The capital letters and smooth, stripped-bare numbers are a throwback to retro restaurants and barber shops. 

Secret Society works very well for text-based tattoos. Because it’s so legible, it’s a great choice for designs that incorporate artwork. Some of the subtleties of the lettering might get lost in a small design, however, so this font is best for medium to large tattoos. 

8. Southside

This all-uppercase black-letter font has highly decorated caps. It’s stylized to the point of being artwork in its own right, but it’s still legible. 

Southside — and similar Gothic fonts — are very popular for men’s chest and back tattoos. Rugged, masculine, and tough-talking, they work best as large, solid-colored designs due to their intricate lettering. It’s common to see these tattoos as standalone statements, but some people underline them with intricate curves and stylized motifs. 

Go big or go home with Southside — a small tattoo using this font would likely become illegible over time. It’s great for single-word designs or very short, bold statements.

9. Inked Skin

This clean-lined cursive script is just ornate enough to be decorative while still being legible. The uppercase version features curvy flourishes without straying into the flowery, Gothic territory that categorizes so many tattoo fonts. The lowercase style is even more stripped down. 

Consequently, it’s one of the best tattoo fonts for text-based designs, making even longer paragraphs look good. Like all cursive tats, it works best in a single color that will hold up well over time, like blue or black. This particular font looks best on its own rather than as part of a drawing. 

10. Handwritten

Sometimes, the best tattoo font is the most personal. Many tattoo artists specialize in replicating handwritten text. A handwritten tattoo is a great way to memorialize a loved one or create a truly one-of-a-kind design, and it holds special meaning to the person who gets it.

Many tattoo artists request clients to bring in a sheet of paper with the word or phrase already written on it. However, some artists can also piece together a design that looks handwritten by using examples of the person’s writing. 

Some handwritten tattoos are standalone designs, but others incorporate an artistic element. For example, some handwritten text takes the shape of a flower stem or heart monitor reading. It’s also common to frame the text with flowers, intricate lines, or geometric shapes. 

Because everyone’s handwriting is different, artists can give recommendations on a case-by-case basis for handwritten tattoos. Some might work well as fine-line designs, while others should be big to avoid spreading. 

Finding the Best Tattoo Font

Theoretically, any font can be used for a tattoo design. In general, good font choices are legible and easy to replicate with a tattoo machine. The best tattoo fonts vary depending on what the tattoo says, how big it is and where it’s located on the body. What matters most is that the design is significant to the person getting inked. 

The post The 10 Best Tattoo Fonts for Quotes, Names, and More appeared first on Designerly.

One of the elements graphic designers work with most is fonts. Whether it’s something clean cut for a high-end business or something whimsical for a childcare facility, they’ll face their fair share of typography. However, that means they’ll also soon find the limit of what their design program of choice has to offer. Limited options result in stunted creativity, which can lead a designer to stare at their screen and scratch their head over their next client’s request. Instead of experiencing artist’s block, learn how to install fonts.

Installing fonts is a bit of a process, but it will become methodical once the user gets used to it. It’s a somewhat hidden feature graphic designers can utilize to step up their projects and make themselves stand out to clients. But is doing so essential to a professional’s workflow? Here is a look at how to install fonts and load them into a program, as well as why choosing unique fonts is vital.

How to Install Fonts

While there are paid options, this piece will use a free font source as a basis. With this in mind, here is how to install fonts.

1. Choose One You Enjoy

Naturally, the first step is to find a font that meets the project’s needs. Sites like DaFont offer categories and further niches so designers can narrow their options. For example, its Script category offers Handwritten, Graffiti, Calligraphy and many more subsections. Browse the offerings and choose one befitting what the client wants.

2. Tap “Download”

Next, all one needs to do is find the “Download” button on the site they’re using and click it. On DaFont, that button is on the right hand side of the screen. The font package should download in a zipped file.

3. Unzip the File

To install the font, the user must unzip the file first. If there’s not an unzipper downloaded on their computer, it should provide options for free and paid programs that can do the job. Once the unzipper does its work, the font is nearly ready.

4. Install the Font

Find where the font is now located — usually in the computer’s Downloads folder — and double click it if using a Mac OS. This should bring up a box where the designer can click “Install.” Windows users can right click on the file and navigate to “Install,” which will initiate the same process. Now, the font should be ready to go into the professional’s design application of choice.

Loading Fonts into the Whole Computer

The double-click step will install a font so one user can access it in a design program, but other profiles on the same device won’t have the same ability. There is an extra step to give the font to the whole computer.

The one with access to the font file will have to drag that file into the Fonts folder on the computer. They can find it by navigating to Users, then Library, then Fonts. Alternatively, just type “Library” into the system’s search feature. Then, scroll down to Fonts and drag the downloaded file into the folder.

When following the first method, a user simply installs the font into their app rather than giving it to the whole computer. This could lead to issues when other users try to access the design and get errors or something entirely incorrect. Installing the file into the entire system ensures everyone sees the same thing and can make updates accordingly.

Why Should You Download Additional Fonts? 

After going through the whole process of installing new fonts, is doing so worth it? As a professional graphic designer, it likely is.

One of the biggest things that will catch an onlooker’s eye is the font on the page, logo, billboard or poster. Not only do different typefaces elicit various emotional responses, but they can help what the viewer is looking at stand out from everything else. Recent estimates show the average person will view up to 10,000 advertisements daily. The best way for a graphic designer to drive results and increase client satisfaction is to use varying fonts, which is difficult without downloading any.

Additionally, people don’t care about ads that just want to sell them a product or service. In fact, this advertising method is likely what has driven the favorability of viewing advertisements to an all-time low of twenty-five percent. Fonts help set the tone of an ad and encourage emotion. In a world where people’s attention spans are dropping and ad placements proliferate, picking an eye-catching font can mean the difference between conversions and getting ignored.

Of course, visuals are key to excellent graphic design — and they’re becoming more crucial in advertising. Of the members of Generation Z one survey polled, 40% preferred short videos as their choice of ad viewing. In order to get everything necessary across in one small clip, brands will likely turn to graphic designers to choose unique and scannable fonts. Professionals must learn how to install fonts to keep up with this emerging marketing tactic and keep people looking.

Creating effective graphic designs is essential to break from the crowd and the competition. In this learning process, consider looking at the designs competitors put out. Is there an opportunity to stand out and attract new audiences?

Can You Make Your Own Fonts?

Yes, if a designer runs out of fonts or can’t find anything that suits their needs, they can make their own font. This could be beneficial as a resource for other professionals or become a form of side income. Alternatively, keeping them to oneself ensures the typeface is truly a stand-out since it can only come from one person. Either way, learning how to make a font can help a graphic designer find individuality that supports their career.

First, take to pen and paper to sketch out what the typeface will look like. Those who prefer a tablet can draw there, but don’t jump into any font-creating software yet. Just take the time to flesh out every idea and outline what each letter or symbol will look like in italics, bold, lower and upper case.

Once there’s a clearer picture of the typeface, choose a program to create the font with. While many options will require payment, applications like FontForge are free and run on all operating systems. Install one of these programs and either upload images of the sketched font into it or start drawing everything once again. While redrawing might seem tedious, it offers the chance to make additional tweaks.

Finally, start using the font and see how everything goes together. There may be some awkward collisions, but this is the time to iron out all the kinks and ensure every element is cohesive. Test the new font’s readability with multiple people before using it — they might catch errors or accidents the designer can’t idenify after staring at the characters for so long.

Learning How to Install Fonts Is Essential for Graphic Designers

Whether a graphic designer holds a position at a business or operates as a freelancer, it is crucial to learn how to install fonts. Doing so can help drive results, please current clients and entice future patrons. Surfing the internet or learning how to create new fonts can cement a graphic designer’s professional title.

The post How to Install Fonts and Why You Should appeared first on Designerly.

Gotham font is classified as a geometric sans-serif. Geometric refers to a typeface because they have circles, triangles and straight lines similar to the core shapes in geometry. They are typically sans-serif fonts, but if you try to set a rule that they are, you will certainly find a newly designed typeface that is geometric serif in nature. As far as fonts go, Gotham is a fairly recent creation, appearing first in 2000. 

Origin

According to Google, geometric typefaces were popular in the early 1900s and made a comeback in the 1970s and 80s. Geometric sans-serifs started in 1920s Germany with font designers Jakob Erbar and Herbert Bayer. 

Bayer worked on Universal Typeface, which would later be digitized into Architype Bayer. Erbar released the font by his last name around 1925. Later, in 1927,Paul Renner created Futura and received accolades for the creation. 

The font style remained popular throughout the 20s and 30s and have come back in popularity at various times as styles evolve and also circle back to give a nod to designs of yesteryear.

You can download Gotham fonts tend to be commercial fonts. You may be able to download free versions but to license for a business or something you’ll make a profit on, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a standard license at minimum. When in doubt, contact the creator to see how you can gain the needed rights to use the font on printed or digital material. Most font creators will not let you repackage their fonts as part of a font set. 

What Does Gotham Font Imply?

The angles and straight lines of the gotham font make it well suited for modern designs. Gotham was developed for professional uses and thus comes in a large family of options, including different widths, weights and both straight and rounded versions. The straight versions work best for digital designs. 

While you can use the font for headlines or body text, it works best in the heavier weights as a header. Currently, Gotham font is owned and sold by Hoefler&Co., which is a font design studio in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company has only been in existence since 1989, so the fonts available today are a bit different than what was designed in the 1920s. 

Gotham font has straighter lines and harsher edges. It works particularly well on digital creations. The foundry also offers Gotham Rounded with a much heavier stroke that may be better suited for posters, billboards and other large printed projects. 

Mechanics of Gotham Font

The capital letters have an architectural look, giving it some interesting structure and power. The Gotham family comes in four different widths, but each width has eight weights from Thin to Ultra and is available in italic or Roman style. Because the font is consistent with spacing no matter what weight you choose, you can easily pair different weights and widths for a unique but consistent appearance. 

You could also use the font alongside something similar with distinct lettering differences, such as Poppin. Look for a font that has geometric properties but is a bit more toward the sans-serif standard look for the body text, for example. 

Gotham font comes with different number types including: 

• Lining Figures 
• Tabular Figures 
• Fractions and 
• Super and Subscripts

One thing a lot of designers love about Gotham font is that it will automatically fix spacing issues as you create things, so that everything appears in the best way possible before you make any adjustments of your own. 

The company recommends you use their automated kerning because the font is already spaced and kerned to look its best in most designs. You can always make tweaks later if something seems off, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how evenly placed letters are in this font. 

On their website, Hoefler&Co. explains why optical kerning isn’t a good option for this font. They have already created visual decisions on pairings that the optical kerning mode sometimes gets wrong. 

Gotham also supports 564 different languages, including: 

• English 
• French 
• Dutch 
• German 
• Russian 
• Afrikaans 
• Greek 
• Tagalog

No matter where your client lives or what language you’re creating a design in, you’ll likely find just what you need in this font family. 

Alternatives to Gotham Font

Although we love Gotham, there are a few drawbacks, including the ongoing licensing costs and the way some of the rounded letters appear on smaller digital screens. There are a few useful geometric san-serif fonts you can turn to for a lower price point and that will still give you the same tone and personality as Gotham.

Figtree

Figtree is available free from Google Fonts and is perfect for digital use. It has a similar look to Gotham but some of the letters are more rounded, such as the capital “G.”

Raleway

Available via Google or Adobe, Raleway has a similar look to Gotham but the letters are much thinner. Keep in mind, however, that you can utilize different weights to achieve the overall look you want. 

Montserrat

Monserrat looks almost exactly the same as Gotham at first glance, but digging deeper you’ll notice some minor differences, such as shorter letters and less strokes to the capitals. It’s also a Google font so it works perfectly for websites, translating to nearly any machine flawlessly. 

Gotham font pairs well with heavier serif fonts. The foundry suggests Quarto or Tungsten. However, you could also turn to simple and popular fonts such as Times New Roman and still get a very nice mix between geometric and serif or even sans-serif fonts for a unique look. 

Where It’s Found/Used

Gotham is a popular headline. It’s been used far more frequently than you might think. Some popular publications and companies utilizing this font include:

• Taco Bell 
• Port Authority Bus Terminal 
• Cartoon Network 
• Paramount Global 
• Discovery, Inc.

You’ll often find it in logos, signs and headers.

How Do People Perceive Gotham?

Gotham is more than a font — it’s a design instantly recognizable by many. When looking at this sans serif typeface, you’ll see it captures modernity and clarity. People see Gotham and often feel a sense of familiarity like they’ve seen it before — and they likely have. With many large-name brands using this font in their logos, people may already trust your brand if you use it.

The font has also come across countless advertisements and digital platforms, building a reputation for timelessness. Its clean lines and well-balanced structure make it easy to read, drawing readers into its content. Moreover, Gotham exudes confidence without being too bold or overpowering.

Many find the font versatile. It may fit perfectly in formal settings like corporate reports or casual platforms like social media. Its neutrality also allows it to blend in various contexts, making it a go-to choice for designers aiming for a professional look. In short, people perceive Gotham as a reliable, modern, clear font that communicates messages with the utmost clarity.

Best Font Pairings With Gotham

If you plan to make Gotham part of your brand’s identity, you may want to choose a secondary font to go with it. Doing so enhances the appeal and readability of a design. Yet, choosing a font that goes well with it is important. 

With Gotham’s clean and neutral design, it makes for a flexible font to complement practically any typeface. Here are some of the best font pairings with Gotham that designers frequently use.

Orpheus

A classic serif, Orpheus offers a touch of elegance when paired with Gotham’s modernity.

GT America Mono

This monospaced font creates an engaging contrast, combining Gotham’s seamless flow with a typewriter-esque charm.

Grifo

With its sophisticated serifs, Grifo brings warmth and personality, making it a delightful counterpart to Gotham.

Knockout

Another sans-serif, Knockout offers varied widths and weights, allowing it to bring a balanced font pairing with Gotham.

Majesti Banner

This font has a tall and condensed appearance. Therefore, it creates an interesting visual appearance alongside Gotham’s uniform width.

GT Sectra

A contemporary serif with sharp edges, GT Sectra adds flair without overshadowing Gotham’s simplicity.

Freight Display

This font is known for its clarity and charm. It can add depth to compositions that use Gotham.

Chronicle Display

A versatile serif, Chronicle Display offers a traditional touch to Gotham’s streamlined design.

Miller

This powerful serif typeface has a newspaper-like feel. It injects an old-world touch that contrasts beautifully with Gotham’s new-age spirit.

Canela

This serif font is soft and curvaceous. It brings a gentle sophistication that plays well with Gotham’s straightforward nature.

Graphik

Another sans-serif, Graphik’s geometric design aligns smoothly with Gotham, making them a solid duo.

HWT Artz

This decorative font creates a nostalgic yet contemporary look when paired with Gotham through its vintage appeal.

Pairing fonts is an art. Yet, while these combinations have been tried and tested, the ultimate choice depends on the specific requirements of the project and the designer’s vision. With Gotham being versatile, though, it does shine alongside numerous typefaces.

Which Brands Should Use Gotham?

With Gotham being such a versatile and neutral font, it’s suitable for brands across various sectors. Here’s a breakdown of the types of brands that would benefit from integrating it into their visual identities:

• Startups and tech companies: For brands that aim to project a modern, forward-thinking image, Gotham’s sleek design is ideal. It resonates with innovation and clarity, a crucial aspect for tech-focused entities.
• Retail and e-commerce: Given its easy readability and broad appeal, Gotham makes a useful font for product descriptions, website headers and marketing materials. In turn, it ensures customers have a pleasant browsing experience.
• Financial institutions: Trust and reliability are pivotal in the financial sector. Gotham’s straightforward design communicates these values effectively, making it a fitting choice for banks, investment firms and insurance companies. 
• Health care providers: Medical institutions, clinics and wellness brands can use Gotham to convey professionalism and care. Its clean lines are calming and reassure people that the brand cares.
• Media and entertainment: Magazines, news platforms and entertainment channels can use Gotham for headings, content and captions. That way, they ensure content is accessible and attractive.

What Should It Be Used As

Although the foundry behind Gotham states you can use it anywhere, geometric fonts are best suited for headlines and in logos. You’re much better off sticking with a simple and common serif or sans-serif for body text.

Designers should always look at user experience first. If the reader has any difficulty at all deciphering letters, then the font combination needs adjusting. For that reason, we recommend using Gotham for bigger letters and pairing it with something simpler for the body text on any project. 

Because it has nice lines, the font will pair with almost any font you choose and look nice, but looks particularly good with serifs. Good designers can take a step back and see if the overall balance works well for the project and shift to a different font if needed.

The Font Series Guide: Introduction
Chapter 1: 15 Google Fonts You Should Be Using
Chapter 2: Times New Roman
Chapter 3: Roboto
Chapter 4: Georgia
Chapter 5: Verdana
Chapter 6: Helvetica
Chapter 7: Comic Sans
Chapter 8: Didot
Chapter 9: Arial
Chapter 10: Tahoma
Chapter 11: Garamond
Chapter 12: Century Gothic
Chapter 13: Brody
Chapter 14: Bromello
Chapter 15: Savoy
Chapter 16: Athene
Chapter 17: Calibri
Chapter 18: Proxima Nova
Chapter 19: Anders
Chapter 20: Monthoers
Chapter 21: Gotham

The post Chapter: 21 Gotham Font appeared first on Designerly.

Graphic designers likely will need a host of fonts to support their endeavors. The original Photoshop does not come with many making it quite repetitive. These typefaces are the standard print and cursive varieties that may be eye-catching if one uses them properly, but having nothing else to choose from will get dull for artists and clients. How can graphic designers do more with their resources? Learn how to add fonts to Photoshop.

While there are cheaper alternatives to this program, Photoshop is the ultimate when it comes to photo manipulation, drawing and graphic design. Thousands of artists worldwide rely on the software to do the best for themselves and their patrons.

Clients may also be better-versed in Photoshop or request all projects to be Photoshop files. Therefore, knowing how to add more typefaces and which ones to choose can make any workflow exciting again. Read about the process and recommendations here.

How to Add Fonts to Photoshop

Luckily, the steps are relatively easy to follow. Adobe has made this process straightforward, so graphic designers can focus on using the typefaces to create compelling designs. There is also more than one way to do it. Here is how to add fonts to Photoshop.

Using Adobe Fonts

Adobe has a significant library of fonts containing over 20,000 typefaces for its entire Creative Cloud. Additionally, having them verified by Adobe’s team ensures there is no awkward balancing or kerning to deal with. Here are the steps on how to add fonts using Adobe Fonts.

First, navigate to the Creative Cloud and look for the cursive “f” at the top right of the screen. Clicking on it will move the webpage to Adobe Fonts. From there, all that is necessary is to toggle the typefaces that would be a great addition to the next project.

Another excellent resource for the company’s fonts.adobe.com is also an excellent resource for the company’s offerings. Simply navigate to the site, log in if necessary and start browsing for fonts. This site will allow designers to search for typefaces, sort them by their properties and test their text before downloading. It has an additional feature that can scan an inputted image and pull up fonts that resemble the sample.

After going through these steps, the graphic designer is ready to work with their new fonts. If the font does not add to Photoshop, try clicking on the small download icon that should appear next to the typeface’s name. It could be a simple issue of not installing correctly.

Installing Free Fonts

Putting free fonts into Photoshop is a bit more of a process. Because Adobe does not regulate them, it takes more than going to a website and clicking a button. However, the low price of “free” makes that extra effort a bit more compelling — as long as the formatting is still well and good once it is there. Here is how to add fonts to Photoshop, but not from Adobe. This process will be the same on Mac and Windows computers.

First, search for the desired font through Google or a typeface-providing website. The benefit of going the non-Adobe route is, since artists are free to create anything they want, there is no limit to what a graphic designer can find. Just be sure to check for a creative commons license (CC0) on whatever font will work best for the project. Some may not require any attribution, while others will, along with a stipulation that the designer must alter the text in some way to not violate the license.

Then, download the font. If it downloads in a zip file, simply click on the folder to unzip it and reveal the contents. The font should now be somewhere in the Downloads section of the computer. Each typeface will likely have the extension .OTF or .TTF, so look for those if too many downloads are already on the computer.

The How-To

Next, there are two options for installing the font. One is that the designer could drag the file from the Downloads folder into Library/Fonts, which should add it to the computer. Moving it to Users/Library/Fonts will make the file accessible to everyone who uses Photoshop on that device.

Otherwise, the user can double click on the file to open it and a small box with the font should show up. At the bottom right or top will be a button that says “Install Font” — hit that and the typeface will port into Photoshop. If it does not, try the above tactic.

As stated before, remember to check the website or font attributes for a CC0 to ensure there will not be any legal troubles from using the font. The license may state that any graphic design using the typeface must attribute it to the creator, while others might forbid anyone from using the font in a commercial setting. It all depends on the type of CC0. When adding free fonts to Photoshop, checking all possible uses to avoid issues is critical.

The Best Sites to Find Free Fonts

Once a graphic designer learns how to add fonts to Photoshop, they probably want to explore right away. Adobe’s offerings are tempting, but the wonderful world of the internet allows users to find nearly any font their heart desires. Luckily, there are also a few great resources that compile these typefaces and make them easily downloadable.

1. Font Bundles

Font Bundles is a fantastic resource for those looking for great free fonts. While the site does have a premium feature, there is a free account designers can sign up for to access hundreds of typefaces at no cost. Not to mention, it also has a Free Font of the Week page where users can get a premium-only font without having to pay. Check out Font Bundles each week to see what exciting offerings there are.

2. DaFont

DaFont is a classic website for getting free fonts. It currently hosts over 79,468 different typefaces, which users can sift through using the categories at the top of the page. All fonts are available to download for free, but be sure to check out the readme files that should come with them. These should indicate if a typeface is exclusively for personal use or if the creator is okay with someone using their work commercially.

3. Google Fonts

Like Adobe Fonts, Google Fonts also has a test feature so users can test a font against their needs before downloading it. It has around 1,557 fonts for graphic designers to choose from, making the ability to sample fonts very attractive. Each typeface also comes in a family that includes several forms of bolding, thinning and italicizing.

4. Font Squirrel

Sick of looking through fonts and hoping they will be available for commerical use? Look no further. As its name implies, Font Squirrel scours the internet and selects the best free commercial typefaces it can find. It also offers a search tool and tags for simplified browsing. Font Squirrel also has a convenient feature that lets users know if a font can go on a website or in an eBook or software.

5. Behance

If you’re looking for a community of designers offering one-of-a-kind typefaces, Behance is an excellent resource. People offer many of their creations for free in exchange for feedback, but you’ll need to check the license to see if it’s for personal or commercial use. You can find everything from serif to script fonts. Many are quite unique and well suited for headings, posters and logos.

One example of an interesting font on Behance is Cilly Mantis Font, which offers some swooshes through the ligatures and a mix between serif and script. It’s a gorgeous font that would work well on a book cover or for a logo. You will need to pay for commercial rights for that particular typeface.

6. Fonts.com

Another repository of fonts exists at Fonts.com, with more than 51,469 font families. Look to the right sidebar to browse the selection by classification. Choose from categories such as Sans, Serif, Script and Display.

Scroll down and slide the scale to free or three dollar signs, depending on your budget. You can also sort by trending, release date, bestsellers or alphabetical order.

When you choose the option “Free,” the selection is narrowed to 1,334 families. You’ll still find a lot of variety from which to choose. Make sure any font you select allows you to use the item on commercial projects. None of the fonts can be resold as part of a font package or for others to use.

7. Dribbble

Similar to Behance, Dribble brings together designers from all over the world to share their creations. You’ll find plenty of free options. As with other sites, always check to see if you need a license for commercial use. Not only could it cost you time if you get a cease and desist notice but you could be sued for damages.

The site has more than 75,654 designs and graphical elements from which to choose. You’ll find some truly unique fonts along with ideas of how to use them in finished projects.

Click on any options to learn more about the font and how to get it and use it. For example, if you click on the font named Oceanside Sans by Josh Carnley, you’re taken to a dedicated page about the font. Click on the creator’s profile to learn more about the designer. He adds a link to purchase, so you see that one is not free to use.

Next, try something like The Night Watch Free Font and you’ll see it is free to download and use. They are trying to sell other services and using it as a lead magnet.

8. Urban Fonts

Last on our list, but certainly not least, is Urban Fonts. They offer a well-organized selection of free fonts in alphabetical order, starting with Anisa Sans and going through ZeroHour. You’ll find dozens of options under each letter.

They boast having a collection of over 8,000 freeware fonts. Some are shareware or linkware. You’ll also find that a few of the fonts are trial versions that require a commercial license for embedding, so read details carefully. Download each font from the page you view it on and then read the licensing requirements and usage details to decide whether you must purchase a license or can use it for free.

If you aren’t quite sure what type of font you want for your project, Urban Fonts is an excellent starting point because of how easy it is to browse through the collection. Scrolling down a page takes mere seconds and you’re certain to find at least one font you like.

Font Recommendations for Graphic Designers

Before you download a specific font to upload to Adobe Photoshop, it’s important to be strategic in your chosen font. You may be tempted to download fonts that look appealing to you. However, you must pick the right font to ensure it aligns with the message you’re sending to your audience. It must also fit well with the overall design.

Graphic creation requires designers to build a visual hierarchy within their projects. This way, it guides the readers, is easier to read, and the design looks well-balanced. 

Now that you know how to add fonts to Photoshop, here are some font recommendations to get you started. Keep in mind that these fonts are what’s trending this year, so be sure to choose them wisely:

• Retro Condensed: Old-school style fonts with a 70s vibe are rocking this year as one of the top font trends. Reto condensed fonts, more specifically, are especially trending because these typefaces are unique with their edginess and quirky style. 
• Calligraphic: If you want a romantic touch, consider calligraphy fonts. These serifs have a mix of weights that make your graphics look modern and elegant.
• Quirky Sans-serif: Fonts like Gersy and Belgro are trending due to their informal and playful style. While they still have clean lines and simplicity, these sans-serif fonts are full of character. You’ll surely stand out from the crowd if you use these fonts for website headers and graphic headlines.
• Classic Modernism: A classic modernist typeface is timeless and will always stay in style. From Physis to Avalon, you get a contemporary feel with a slightly funky touch. Still, these classic fonts are extremely versatile and work well with either headlines or body text.

Tips for Organizing and Managing Added Fonts

When uploading your new fonts to Photoshop, keeping them organized is crucial. That way, you can find specific fonts more easily, saving time within your design process. Here are a few tips you can start implementing now.

1. Use Font Management Software

Font management software is a tool to keep all your fonts in one place. These tools let you organize your fonts into folders, group them into specific categories and search. Consider using popular font management software like FontBase. You can use it for Mac and Windows, and it’s free. FontBase also has an easy-to-use interface, and you can organize all your fonts in one place. 

2. Categorize Your Fonts Into Folders

The more fonts you add to Photoshop, the more you’ll need to keep them organized. Consider maintaining them in an orderly fashion by organizing your fonts into categorized folders. Some of the types of folders you can create include project-based, style or usage. Categorized folders make your fonts easier to access, especially if you’re working on different projects throughout the day.

3. Keep Your Font Options Limited

As a graphic designer, you’ll work on projects that require different fonts each time. This requires you to add more fonts to Photoshop, which keeps multiplying over time. There is such a thing as having too many fonts. They can easily clutter your library, making finding the font you need for a project more challenging. 

Instead of filling your Photoshop with hundreds of fonts, consider deleting the ones you no longer need. This will make browsing much easier. Plus, you make more room for newer fonts you need in the future.

4. Activate the Fonts You Actually Need

Having all the fonts in Photoshop activated can add confusion and time consumption to your projects. If you have all your fonts activated through font management software or Photoshop, you make your font list less manageable. Instead, consider triggering only those you use the most or need for a new project. This method lets you keep the clutter down and makes finding fonts easier.

Learn How to Add Fonts to Photoshop to Step Up Your Designs

Sticking exclusively with the typefaces already in Photoshop will get boring quickly. Use this guide on how to add fonts to Photoshop and check out the websites that offer new and exciting designs. Who knows — the right writing style may be what a project needs to catapult it to success.

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