Serif vs Sans Serif SERIF Definition  A serif    is a small line attached to the end of a stroke in a letter or symbol.   A  typef...

Serif vs Sans Serif

SERIF

Definition 

  • A serif  is a small line attached to the end of a stroke in a letter or symbol. 
  • typeface with serifs is called a serif typeface.

Serif Font

History

  • Serif is originated from Dutch word "schreef" meaning "line" or " pen stroke".

Description

  • Serifs are  small decorative flourishes on the ends of strokes.
  • Their appearance may well serve a higher purpose. 
  • They increase both readability and reading speed of long passage text.
Serif font
Serif numericals and special symbols

Serif fonts

  • Below listed are the popular serif fonts.
Serif fonts

Classification

  • Serif fonts can be broadly classified into four subgroups: old style, transitional, didone and slab.

   Old style serif

  • These are characterized by curved strokes whose axis inclines to left and little contrast between hicks and thins. 
  • These are always bracketed and head serifs are often angled.

Old style serif font

  Transitional serif

  • These are between old style and didone serif.
  • Here strokes normally have a vertical stress and head serifs are oblique and are bracketed.
Transitional serif font

   Didone or modern serif

  • These are characterized by extreme contrast between thick and thin lines.
  • These have vertical stress and long and fine serifs with minimal bracketing.
Didone serif font

   Slab serif

  •  These have very heavy serifs with minimal or no bracketing.
  •  Changes in strokes weight is unnoticeable.
Slab serif font


SANS SERIF

Definition

  • Sans serif is letter form which does not have extending features called "serifs" at the end of the strokes.
  • A typeface without serifs is called sans serif type face.
Sans serif font

History

  • The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without" and serif ,possibly from Dutch word schreef, meaning "line" or "pen stroke".

Description

  • Sans serif typefaces are considered more modern and include a variety of widths and shapes.  
  • Sans serif typefaces have a look that is direct and precise, although character edges may be either sharp or rounded.
Sans serif font

Sans serif numericals and special symbol

Sans serif fonts

  • Below listed are popular sans serif fonts.
Sans serif fonts

Classification

  • Sans serif fonts are classified into four types: grotesque, neo-grotesque, geometric and humanist.

   Grotesque sans serif

  •   These are often solid,bold designs suitable for headlines and advertisements.
  •   These have limited variation of stroke width and there is slight squared quality to many of the curves.
Grotesque serif font

   Neo-grotesque sans serif

  •   These consist of a direct evolution of grotesque serif.
  •   These are straightforward in appearance with limited width variation.
  •   There is no stroke contrast.
Neo-grotesque serif font

    Geometric sans serif

  •   These are based on geometric shapes like circles, squares.
  •   Strokes have the appearance of being strict mono-lines.
  •   These tends to be less readable.
Geometric serif font

   Humanist sans serif

  •   These are based on proportions of Roman inscriptional letters.
  •   Humanist frequently have a true italic rather than a slopped Roman.
Humanist serif font

Notes 

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