Typography kinds

[DrummerHead]

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7073/serifasem5.jpg (http://www.unostiposduros.com/paginas/tra01h.html)

I know their names, but in Spanish. Literal translations would be

1 Classic Roman
2 Modern Roman
3 Serif (dry stick would be the strict literal translation, LORLROLFOFLL)
4 Egyptian

But I'm not really sure these are their correct names in English. I am specially interested in kind number 4, cause I'm doing a cowboy themed design (a wallpaper)

So... enlighten me.

[vtwin_gary]

there is really only 2 clasifications for these 4 fonts Serif & Sans-Serif
Serif fonts are the fonts that have little tails— fonts like Times, for example.(your 1,2 & 4)
A sans-serif font, such as Arial, lacks these tails (your 3)

[morea]

I think they are:

1. Roman
2. Modern
3. Sans serif
4. Slab serif

[budafist]

1 serif
2 hairline serif
3 sans serif
4 slab serif

Maybe the first one has a more specific name, not sure.

[budafist]

Hmmm...Roman serif?

[urstwile]

I think they are:

1. Roman
2. Modern
3. Sans serif
4. Slab serif

Bingo!

[urstwile]

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/7073/serifasem5.jpg (http://www.unostiposduros.com/paginas/tra01h.html)

I know their names, but in Spanish. Literal translations would be

1 Classic Roman
2 Modern Roman
3 Serif (dry stick would be the strict literal translation, LORLROLFOFLL)
4 Egyptian

But I'm not really sure these are their correct names in English. I am specially interested in kind number 4, cause I'm doing a cowboy themed design (a wallpaper)

So... enlighten me.

As Morea already correctly stated, number 4 is a slab serif. Examples of this would be Clarendon, Memphis, Egyptienne, Serifa, and Rockwell among others.

[Alan G]

The designation "Roman" can throw you, because the "regular" weight in many fonts is referred to as Roman.

I think number 1 would be classified as "Transitional" -- a serif face with thin serifs and reduced brackets. Stone Serif and Perpetua are examples. With more pronounced brackets and thicker serifs, you'd have one of the Oldstyle fonts, like Jenson or Garamond.

Number 2 is Modern, 3 is Sans Serif, and 4 is Slab Serif, as Morea said.

[urstwile]

Actually, I think the Roman designation comes from it being based on the lettering on Roman architecture, although you're right Alan, it gets confused due to the non-italic or obliqued version of a font weight.

In hunting around, I also found this link, it's pretty fascinating, or maybe that's just me :rolleyes:. Type classification (http://www.redsun.com/type/classification/)

[mac.FINN]

Alan's right... so to sum up:

1. Transitional
2. Modern
3. Sans Serif
4. Slab Serif (also called Egyptian)

[tZ]

^ forgot old style but, mac.finn has it.