There are so many ways that I hardly know where to begin. But here are a few:
The quick and dirty (and a bit lazy) way: post an image of the font on this forum and someone may ID it for you or come up with a font that is more or less similar. Backdraw, you will stay dependent on others if you want to know something.
Alternative: Goto http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ upload your image (or the URL) and see what you get. Advantage: Instant answer (but slow server) but only results (if any) from major typefoundaries. See also direct search.
The time consuming way: look at the font index and try to imagine in which category the font may fit. Start looking. Fron A to Z. You may find it. If not here then probably on one of the many other fonts databases. Goto http://cgm.cs.mcgill.ca/~luc/engine.html
Advantage: you see a lot of fonts and get a better idea of what is available (an awfull lot) and what you like and dislike.
The direct search. Goto http://www.identifont.com/identify.html and answer all the questions as exactly as possible. Disadvantage: IDs only fonts from the major typefondaries. But: Next step: Goto http://www.fontseek.com/index.html and search for the font that matched your search. You may now also get a freeware or shareware alternative for the font.
Friendly advice: learn some of the basics of typography. Whatever you will make, for DTP or for the web, will look better. Pleasant to read and informative: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/graphicdesign/ or for very well written typography in a nutshell download Typograf fron http://www.neuber.com and read the part on Information about typefaces and typography. You won't regret.
Success!
Thank you so much for your response. I have been looking and looking - but I feel my font skills are so poor that I can't even describe the one I am after. So dirty it is lol
either/both of the top two texts would be awesome thanks
There are so many fonts to choose from - how on earth do you start locating a specific one when you have no idea what it might be called?