What,you,need,know,about,Fonts computer What you need to know about Fonts - font history and basics

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The fonts term comes from the Middle French fonte,from fondre (meaning to melt or cast) which referred to type producedby casting molten metal at a type foundry. Fonts in printing, sometimescalled Fount, are a complete set of type of any one size, with all theusual points and accents; a font consists of about 100,000 characters.In computers, a computer font is an electronic data file which containsa set of glyphs, characters, or symbols such as wingdings. Although theterm font first referred to a set of metal type sorts in one style andsize, since the 1990's most fonts are digital and used for computers orcomputer devices.Font History and Font FormatsThere are different font formats - which one should I choose?OpenType fonts (.OTF) -OpenType is a scalable format for computer fonts that was initiallydeveloped by Microsoft, then later joined by Adobe Systems.OpenType fonts were first announced in 1996 and Adobecompletedconversion of its entire font library to OpenType around the end of2002. In 2005, there were around 10,000 fonts available in OpenTypefont format, with Adobe's font library making up under a third of thetotal. As of 2006, every major font foundry and many minor ones weredeveloping fonts in OpenType font format.TrueType fonts (TT or .TTF)- TrueType is a digital font technology that was designed byAppleTMComputer, and is now used by both Apple (Mac) and Microsoft(PC) in their operating systems. Microsoft has distributed millions ofquality TrueType fonts in thousands of different styles. TrueType fontsoffer the highest possible quality on computer screens, printers,and include a wide range of features which make them very easy to use.PostScript Fonts(Type 1) - PostScript fonts predates TrueType by aboutsix years. First, there were many different font formats for digitalfonts, none of which were standardized. Then Apple adopted Adobe'sPostScript page description language (PDL) for its Apple LaserWriterprinter in 1985. This, combined with the introduction of desktop publishing software, sparked a revolution in page layout technology. ClearType Fonts(found on AscenderFonts.com) - Microsoft ClearType fonts are an unprecedented innovation in font display technology that dramatically improves font display resolutionand marks a genuine breakthrough in screen readability.These Microsoftfonts were designed by Microsoft and leading type designers and fonttechnologists to improve the reading experience in Windows Vista andMicrosoft Office 2007.With ClearType font technology, the fonts onyour computer screen look almost as sharp and clear as those printed ona piece of paper.The choice of font format is mostly based onthe kind of documents you create and your computer environment. Hereare some general guidelines: OpenType TT OpenType TT fonts containTrueType® outlines, and have a .TTF file extension. This is the defaultfont format of both Macintosh and Windows systems. OpenType fonts withTrueType outlines are popular among home users and both small and largebusinesses or other enterprises. OpenType PS OpenType PS fonts containPostScript® outlines, and have a .OTF file extension. OpenType PS fontsare replacing Type 1 fonts as users upgrade their systems. Type 1PostScript Type 1 is the original font format that was part of the desktop publishingrevolution that started in 1985. Type 1 fonts for PostScript andPostScript compatible printers consist of more than one file and have alimited character set. These limitations are overcome with OpenTypefonts.Font CharacteristicsFont Weight Thereare three basic categories of font weights: light, regular, and bold.The regular font weight for most typefaces is slightly lighter thanmedium. Many computer fonts for Microsoft Office, Web and common usecome with a normal, regular and a bold weight. Font Weight relativeorder: thinultra lightextra lightlightsemi lightbookregular, (roman),plain, normalmediumdemi bold or semi boldboldextra boldheavyblackextrablackultra Font Width compressed, condensed, narrowwide, extended FontFamilies There are a multitude of typefaces that have been created overthe centuries and they are commonly categorized into font familiesaccording to their appearance. At the highest level, one candifferentiate between blackletter, serif, sans serif, and decorativefonts.1. Blackletter Fonts Blackletter fontswere the earliest fonts used with the invention of the printing press.They resemble the artistic handwritings of cloisters in the Middle Agesand fall into three groups: Gothic fonts and Old English Text - Of allthe blackletter fonts, the Gothic ones most closely resemble theTextura calligraphy used with manual copying of books. A Gothictypeface was thus also carved by Johannes Gutenberg when he printed his42-line Bible, including a large number of ligatures and commonabbreviations. While in Germany, Gothic fonts were quickly displaced,they remained in use in great variance and are frequently also referredto as Old English Text fonts.Schwabacher typefaces were predominant inGermany from about 1480 to 1530. Most importantly, all of the works ofMartin Luther, leading to the Protestant Reformation, as well as theApocalypse of Albrect Durer (1498) were printed in this typeface. Itwas probably initially used by Johannes Bamler, a printer fromAugsburg, in 1472. The origins of the font name are unclear; someassume that the font was designed by a typeface carver from the villageof Schwabach who worked externally and was thus referred to as theSchwabacher.Most commonly known among the blackletter fonts as those ofthe Fraktur font family, which stated when Emperor Maximilian I (1493 -1519) established a series of books and had a new typeface createdspecifically for this purpose. Fraktur faces were widely used inGermany until the end of World War II.2. Serif FontsSerif fonts are divided into four font groups: Renaissance - this fonttype has a slight difference in thickness within each font. This fontcategory includes the Garamond and Palatino font families.Baroque -this font type has a thickness within each font with greater variety.This font category includes the Baskerville and Times New Roman fontfamilies.Classicist - the most variance of thickness with each font.This font category includes the BodoniTMand Century Schoolbook fontfamilies.Modern fonts - these fonts are designed mainly for decorativepurposes. This font category includes the Rockwell and Amasis fontfamilies.3. Sans Serif Fonts Sans Serif fontsfirst appeared to be the "Egyptian" font released in 1816 by WilliamCaslons' foundry in England. The Sans Serif fonts are commonly used fordisplay applications such as signage, headings and other applicationswhere the font is needed to stand out and continuous reading is not arequirement. Sans Serif fonts are divided into four font groups:Grotesque - This font category includes the GrotesqueTMor Royal Gothicfonts.Neo-grotesques - This font category includes the Standard,Arial and Univers fonts.Humanist - This font category includes theGill Sans or Frutiger fonts.Geometric - This font category includesthe Futura or Spartan fonts. Other common Sans Serif fonts include:Lucida, Tahoma and Verdana fonts.How to Download fonts FontMarketplace.commakes is easy for you to download the font. For every item that youpurchase there will be a download link on the order confirmation page.Additionally, the receipt that is automatically emailed to you willalso have the links. For more information, please view our Font Helppage section on "How to Download Fonts"How to Install fonts Fontmarketplace.com provides font downloads in twoforms: Automatic Installer for Windows Manual install forWindows/Macintosh/Linux/Other For more information, please view ourFont Installation page under Font Help. All trademarks are property oftheir respective owners.