A very expanded sans serif font in capital letters inspired by the inscription on a bank note Old bank notes tend to have a very typical typography. Usually they carry decorative and elaborately designed markings. For one thing, they must be practically impossible to forge and for another, they should make a respectable and legitimate impression. And in the days of copper and steel engravings, that meant nothing less than creating ornate, shaded or otherwise complicated scripts. Designing the appropriate script was literally in the hands of the engraver. That’s why I noticed this bank note from 1948. It is the first 20 mark bill in the then newly created currency ”Deutsche Mark.“ All other bank notes of the 1948 series show daintier forms of typography with an obvious tendency toward modern face. The 1949 series which followed shortly thereafter reveals the more complicated script as well. For whatever reason, only this 20 mark bill displays this extremely expanded sans serif variation of the otherwise Roman form applied. This peculiarity led me in the year 2010 to create a complete font from the single word ”Banknote.“ Back to those days in the 40’s, the initial edition of DM bank notes was carried out by a special US-American printer who was under pressure of completing on time and whose engravers not only engraved but also designed. So that’s why the bank notes resemble dollars and don’t even look like European currency. That also explains some of the uniquely designed characters when looked at in detail. Especially the almost serif type form on the letters C, G, S and Z, but also L and T owe their look to the ”American touch.“ The ingoFont Banknote 1948 comprises all characters of the Latin typeface according to ISO 8859 for all European languages including Turkish and Baltic languages. In order to maintain the character of the original, the ”creation“ of lower case letters was waived. This factor doesn’t contribute to legibility, but this kind of type is not intended for long texts anyway; rather, it unfolds its entire attraction when used as a display font, for example on posters. Banknote 1948 is also very suitable for distortion and other alien techniques, without too much harm being done to the characteristic forms. With Banknote 1948 ingoFonts discloses a font like scripts which were used in advertising of the 1940’s and 50’s and were popular around the world. But even today the use of this kind of font can be expedient, especially considering how Banknote 1948, for its time of origin, impresses with amazingly modern detail.

From the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, by way of Toronto, comes Martie's handwriting. Martie Byrd is a school teacher in Roanoke, Virginia, and a friend of Canada Type's Rebecca Alaccari. After years of admiring the cheer and clarity of Martie's handwriting, we asked her to write out full alphabets for some cool font treatment. The intent was to do three different versions of her writing in two different pens, then use the auto-magic of OpenType to determine letter sequences and rotate character sets on the fly when the fonts are in use. A successful endeavor it was. Take a look at the images in the MyFonts gallery to see the character rotation in action, along with a visual explanation of why Martie is not just another handwriting font. Unlike other available felt tip and ballpoint handwriting fonts, the regular and bold variations are style-based, not weight-based. They are the handwritten expressions of two different Sharpie pens: The fine point one (Martie Bold), and the ultrafine one (Martie Regular). The style-based variation considerably helps the realism needed in design pieces that take advantage of the contrast of two different handwriting fonts. Weight thickening in handwriting is an obvious mechanical effect that only happens with computers. Weight changing by replacing pens is what happens in the real world. Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold each contain three different character sets in a single font. Language support includes Western, Central and Eastern European languages for all three sets. This translates into each Pro font containing over 750 characters. Add OpenType code and stir, and you have true handwriting fonts with versatility unavailable out there in anything else of the genre. A software program that supports OpenType features is needed to use the randomization coded in Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold. Current versions of QuarkXpress and Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illlustrator, InDesign) do contain support for the randomization feature. But if you don't have one of these apps, you can still use the interchangeable Type 1 or True Type fonts and change the characters manually to achieve the appearance of true handwriting. The Martie fonts come in a variety of price packages, from the affordable single fonts to value-laden complete sets. All the proceeds from these fonts received by Canada Type will be donated 50/50 to two primary schools: One in Roanoke (where Martie teaches), and one in Toronto (where the 10-year old, real Canada Type boss goes). So next time a design project needs a handwriting font, do the write thing and use Martie to keep it real.

Today's digital font technology allowed the world-renowned typeface designer/calligrapher Hermann Zapf to finally realize a vision he first had more than fifty years ago: creating a typeface that could capture the freedom and liveliness of beautiful handwriting. The basic Zapfino™ font family, released in 1998, consists of four alphabets with many additional stylistic alternates that can be freely mixed together to emulate the variations in handwritten text. In 2003, Herman Zapf completely reworked the Zapfino design, creating Zapfino™ Extra. This large expansion of the Zapfino family was designed in close collaboration with Akira Kobayashi. Zapfino™ Extra includes a cornucopia of new characters. It features exuberant hyper-flourishes, elegant small caps, dozens of ornaments, more alternates and ligatures, index characters, and a very useful bold version, named Zapfino™ Forte. A version of the 1998 Zapfino typeface ships as one of the pre-installed fonts included with Mac OSX. The Mac OSX version's letters are four times larger than the Linotype standard. In order to minimize compatibility problems for Macintosh users, Linotype has created OSX versions of its Zapfino Extra Pro typefaces, which have been enlarged to correlate visually with the Mac OS Zapfino system font. These special Linotype fonts can be distinguished by the letter X" in their name. Zapfino Extra is an OpenType format font, which is available in two versions. Which version you purchase should depend on which software applications you use the most and what features they support! The Contextual version of Zapfino Extra Pro contains a treasure-trove of extra contextual features. When created in 2004, this was the most advanced OpenType font released to date. By purchasing this version, users of OpenType-supporting applications, such as Adobe InDesign, may access all of the features available in the entire Zapfino family through just two fonts, Zapfino Extra LT Pro (Contextual) and Zapfino Forte LT Pro! Unfortunately, most non-Adobe applications currently do not support the contextual features made possible by recent OpenType developments. Users of Quark XPress and Microsoft Office should instead purchase all of the non-contextual fonts of Zapfino Extra Pro family, in order to access all of the Zapfino Extra family's 1676 glyphs. The Zapfino Extra family's character set supports 48 western and central European languages. Use Zapfino Extra to produce unusual and graceful advertisements, packaging, and invitations. Zapfino Extra is so joyously abundant that it's tempting to over-indulge, so be sure to check out the tips for working well with the possibilities."

Keep Calm is a family of fonts developed from the now famous World War 2 poster that was designed in 1939 but never issued, then rediscovered in 2000. As well as the original Keep Calm font, the medium weight of the poster, new weights are now available – Keep Calm Book (regular weight), Heavy and Light – and each weight comes with a complimentary italic. Version 2.0 (2017) is a comprehensive update which consists of numerous refinements and improvements across all weights. The family now contains a full complement of Latin Extended-A characters, Welsh diacritics and Irish dotted consonants. The four italics have been optically corrected with revised, ‘true italic’ forms of a and f. The crown motif from the top of the Keep Calm poster is located at the plus minus ± and section § keystrokes (Alt 0177 and Alt 0167 on Windows). The lowercase g follows the Gill/Johnston eyeglass model, but also included is an alternative, single-story g at the Alt G keystroke (Alt 0169 on a Windows keyboard), the normal location of the copyright symbol which has been relocated elsewhere in the fonts. An alternative lowercase t, without the curved wedge cutaway, is provided at the Alt T (dagger) keystroke (Alt 0134 on Windows). When I first saw the Keep Calm and Carry On poster, I wrongly assumed the letters to be Gill Sans. Recent research at the National Archive by Dr. Bex Lewis of Manchester Metropolitan University has revealed that the original poster was hand drawn by the illustrator and painter, Ernest Wallcousins. The Gill Sans influence is apparent, in the R particularly, the M’s perfectly pointed vertex is redolent of Johnston’s Underground, and the most anomalous character, the C, resembles the ‘basic lettering’ of engineers that provided the vernacular sources for the Gotham typeface. Developing the Keep Calm typeface has been an exercise in extrapolation; an intriguing challenge to build a whole, high quality font family based on the twelve available capitals of the Keep Calm poster, and on similar lettering from the other two posters in the original series. This has required the creation of new lowercase letters that are believably 1939; that maintain the influence of Gill and Johnston while also hinting at the functional imperative of a wartime drawing office. Wallcousins’s lettering balanced intuitive human qualities and the pure pleasure of drawing elegant contemporary characters, against an underlying geometry of ruled lines, perfect circles, 45° terminals, and a requirement for no-nonsense clarity.

TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is an exquisite Arabic Thuluth font that is designed to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any project. This font is named after the renowned calligrapher Tharwat Emara, who is widely celebrated for his outstanding work in the field of Arabic calligraphy. One of the most remarkable features of TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is its impeccable balance between the thick and thin lines. The font's curves and strokes are carefully crafted to create a seamless and harmonious flow, giving it a unique and mesmerizing appearance. The intricacies and details of the font's characters reflect the skill and artistry of the calligrapher and demonstrate the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is a perfect choice for designers and artists who want to add a touch of Arabic culture and tradition to their projects. The font comes with a full set of Arabic characters, including ligatures, diacritical marks, and numerals. The characters are designed to be easily legible and readable, making it suitable for use in both print and digital media. One of the most striking aspects of TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is its versatility. It can be used for a wide range of applications, from branding and advertising to editorial and publishing. Its unique and captivating design will make any project stand out and attract customers, making it a valuable investment for designers and artists. The font's exquisite design is not only limited to its characters, but it extends to its overall layout and spacing. TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara has a perfect balance between its characters' shapes and spaces, giving it a smooth and consistent look. The font's spacing is also carefully crafted to ensure that the characters are well-organized and easy to read. TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is not just a font; it's a work of art. Its unique design and intricate details make it stand out from other Arabic fonts in the market. The font's exquisite design is a result of the meticulous attention to detail paid by the calligrapher, which is evident in every stroke and curve of the font's characters. Overall, TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is a font that celebrates the beauty and elegance of Arabic calligraphy. Its captivating design and versatility make it an excellent choice for designers and artists who want to add a touch of tradition and culture to their projects. With its unique and mesmerizing appearance, TE Classic2 Tharwat Emara is sure to attract customers and make any project stand out.

Stencil version of TecoSans.

victorian family of fonts

Serif version of TecoSans.

FlorishesA are a set of flourishes, that serves well for frames and other elegant embellishments, they are beginning of last century American. Your I-found-them-somewhere type-designer, Gert Wiescher

A collection of fonts by the type foundry Intellecta Design. Distressed and antique, use these fonts in display purposes for a stylized type design. Contains a limited amount of letter designs.

Mystery Writer JNL is based on the hand lettered title from the cover of a 1947 issue of “Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine”, and is available in both regular and oblique versions.

JT Symington was inspired by the classic serif typefaces of the 20th century. Its well defined serifs make it well suited to headlines as well as large chunks of body copy.

Borrowing from the 1940s, and inspired by printed text found in an old catalog, the slightly imperfect letterforms of Pitkin JNL emulate the hand-lettered look of signs and show cards.

Cookogram is a package of 50 pictograms which have been drawn in two styles - outline & solid. The pictogram set consists of cooking and eating utensils, pots, pans, glasses, bottles and crockery.

Souttia is a slim and exquisite handwritten font. Stylish, graceful, and flowing, this font will definitely elevate the look of any of your beautiful creations while keeping them grounded and natural.

Okaycat proudly presents Little Japan, our new dingbats font full of traditional Japanese icons. See the sights of Japan - beautiful Mount Fuji, geisha, sushi, sumo, shiriken, geta and so much more.

BoldAyres is the heavy version of my Ayres Royal that was inspired by famous calligrapher Ayres and a little bit by a Bavarian King. Your lover of Blackletter typefaces, Gert Wiescher

Sweet, charming and full of authenticity: Harleyquin is a one-of-a-kind typeface with a personal feel. Use titling to give different letter effects, making your project even more elegant!

It's always holiday time with this frolicking bunch of penguins. Whether celebrating the end of year holidays or prancing around on vacation, these 52 Holiday Penguins are always having a blast.

The vast variety of vintage letterpress illustrations representing many different eras and art styles allows for yet another volume of cartoons, embellishments, ornaments and stock cuts contained within Print Partners JNL.

Helgis Black is a hand crafted font, inspired by album covers of progressive and psychedelic rock bands of 70's. It is perfectly suited for covers (books, albums), posters and games.

Subtle slab serifs and distinctive hooks of this square ultra light type face will add a bit of elegant feeling to your sweet designs. Masherbrum Slab looks better in larger sizes.

Re-drawn from a screen capture of a vintage newspaper front page, Late Breaking News JNL is a traditional sans serif that's perfect for headlines, titling and other forms of announcements.

Winsome Autumn is a cute and quirky handwritten font. Add it to each of your party invitations, gathering, or pretty much any design that requires a touch of youth and joy.

Nicholas is a headline version of Goodchild , Shinntype’s version of Jenson . It has been specially modified with very fine details and an ultra-tight fit for headlines that really get noticed.

Stoica is a font family for communication to the point. It supports 114 languages, features a total of 508 glyphs and includes an italicized version for each of the 5 weights.

Dabi is a bold sans serif type family of three weights plus matching italics. It is suitable for logos, titles, posters, etc. Made from a compilation of all his design projects.

The On Hangers family is a collection of fonts consisting of font-bats on hangers. Upper-case are on hangers and lower-case are not. Mix and match and have fun.

Secret Diary is a nice bit of uncomplicated handwriting: it is rounded, feminine, legible and above all - natural in appearance. Secret Diary comes with some ligatures and an overdose of diacritics.

Simple Fact is a family of 4 fonts and 2 sets of drawings. All fonts and drawing was made with the same inky pen, leaving a slightly blurred and rugged look

Originally designed by DeLittle of York of England, this face conveys a casual quality with contrasting strokes, rounded forms, and serifs with a brush-like quality. A lovely decorative display font.

A collection of fonts by the type foundry Intellecta Design. Distressed and antique, use these fonts in display purposes for a stylized type design. Contains a limited amount of letter designs.

Opz Popz JNL is a collection of fifty-two designs based on geometric designs and pop art (reminiscent of the 1960s). These images are perfect embellishments for retro-themed work projects.

Border pieces, catch words, head and tail pieces and a generous amount of cartoons comprise Letterpress Assortment JNL. All of the printers' stock cuts were re-drawn from vintage source material.

A 1949 piece of piano solo sheet music entitled "Playing Jacks" contained the title beautifully hand-lettered in a stencil-like alphabet. Finery JNL is the digital version of this design.

Paris Doodles... memories of a feeling, a rainy afternoon, a glass of wine, an outdoor cafe, a metro stop… 28 hand drawn whimsical icons and 2 scripted words. Ooh la la!

Heretic surrounds itself with an atmosphere of evil, carnival freakshow and no-nonsense thuggery. Mix the black and condensed weights of this octagonal blackletter together for more interesting, yet disconcerting results.