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Author Archives: Laura Franz
DejaVu Serif
View the web font specimen sheet.
A slab serif font by Tavmjong Bah, based on the Vera fonts. Unlike traditional slab serif fonts, DejaVu has contrast between thick and thin strokes. The bowls are slightly square, and the large x-height means it remains readable at smaller sizes.
DejaVu tests well across browsers, though there are some letterspacing issues in Safari on Windows XP.
The DejaVu Serif family consists of 8 fonts (various weights and styles). All are available for free download at fontsquirrel.com.
Filed under 8 Styles, FontSquirrel, Slab Serif
Calluna Regular
View the web font specimen sheet.
A font that almost made it. A Venetian serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com), Calluna has a smaller x-height than Georgia, and works best at a generous font-size. Calluna feels like an “old” font; it has pen-formed serifs and terminals. The rising crossbar of the lowercase e is reminiscent of early Renaissance (Venetian/Humanist) letterforms.
Unfortunately, the font does not hold up across browsers. On Windows (XP, 7, Vista) the strokes on the letterforms get very light (thin). The pen-formed head serifs on letters such as h, b, d, u, and so on become too prominent, and the rising crossbar on the e becomes jagged and breaks.
The overall structure, spacing, and system of the font is beautiful. I had to include it in my collection anyway. If you are creating a site primarily for mac users, Calluna will serve you well.
The Calluna family consists of 8 fonts (styles, weights). Calluna Regular is available for free download at fontspring. The full family is available for license at fontspring and for font-linking via typekit.
Filed under 8 Styles, Fonts That Almost Made It, FontSpring, TypeKit, Venetian (Serif)
Museo Sans 500
View the Museo Sans 500 font specimen sheet.
A sans serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com). With its perfectly round o and almost circular bowls, Museo Sans has some geometric elements. On the other hand, its double-decker g and soft foot terminal on the l feel humanist. I categorize it as a geometric sans serif font, because when text set in Museo Sans 500 is compared to a range of sans serif fonts it feels more geometric than humanist. Museo Sans 500 has a slightly smaller x-height than Verdana.
The Museo Sans family has 10 fonts (various styles, weights). All are available for web licensing at fontspring.com. In the font specimen sheet, I show only Museo Sans 500 and Museo Sans 500 italic, which are free fonts. I combine them with Museo 700, a bold font from a different family, but a family with a similar structure. The full family is also available via typekit.
Filed under 10 Styles, FontSpring, Geometric Sans Serif, TypeKit
Museo Slab 500
View the Museo Slab 500 font specimen sheet.
A slab serif font by Jos Buivenga (exljbris.com). Museo Slab 500 has an x-height similar to Georgia. It also has heavier, more uniform strokes which makes letters like a and e a bit harder to read. Thus, Museo Slab works best with a generous font-size.
The Museo Slab family has 12 fonts (various styles, weights). All are available for web licensing at fontspring.com. In the font specimen sheet, I show only Museo Slab 500 and Museo Slab 500 italic, which are free fonts. I combine them with Museo 700, a bold font from a different family, but a family with a similar structure. The full family is also available via typekit.
Filed under 12 Styles, FontSpring, Slab Serif, TypeKit