Learn about the evolution of script typography from its historical origins to its modern applications in branding and design. Explore how technology influenced and facilitated the changes in script typefaces throughout the 20th century.
Key Insights
- The script type category evolved from manual handwriting and calligraphy with brushes or quill pens, transitioning to machine carved and punch-cut “fonts” for the mechanized printing industry.
- Script typography witnessed significant transformations in the second half of the 20th century due to technological advancements and the phase-out of metal type.
- Formal scripts such as Tangier and Zapfino exude tradition and elegance, making them ideal for invitations and formal announcements.
- Casual scripts like Fertigo offer an informal, friendly appeal, making them suitable for diverse media and modern brand identities.
- The My Fonts website uses a blend of connected and semi-connected script styles, displaying the versatility of script typefaces.
- Script typography can possess an originality that crosses the boundaries of style categories, as demonstrated in the 1942 film Palm Beach, where a script font is used for the associate producer's name.
Script Typeface Traits
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Calligraphic Origins
Mimics handwriting, often with elegant connecting strokes.
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Formal vs Casual
Formal scripts (Snell Roundhand) vs casual brush scripts.
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Use Sparingly
Hard to read in long passages — best for headlines, invitations, logos.
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Examples
Snell Roundhand, Zapfino, Brush Script, Lobster, Pacifico.
Video Transcription
Hello again, and welcome back everyone to our short talks on The Classifications of Typography here at Noble Desktop.
The type category we are looking at in this video is Script.
Historically, most script text on signage, in logos, on displays, etc. was
Hand produced with brushes or quill pens, thus script font styles as we know them today, have been derived from the fluid movement of handwritten and calligraphic lettering styles.
With the advent of lead-type, script-style alphabets were carved, then punch-cut into “fonts” for the industrial revolution’s mechanized printing industry. These fonts were often referred to as “Engravers” scripts because of their likeness to engraving.
Script typefaces evolved rapidly in the second half of the 20th century due to developments in technology and the end of widespread use of metal type.
Formal scripts like Tangier and Zapfino are more traditional and elegant. They’re often used for invitations and announcements. Casual scripts like Fertigo have a more informal and friendly feel and are often used on a variety of media and as part of modern brandidentities.
They can still be elegant, or even playful, or comical.
This sign-up screen from the My Fonts Web Site demonstrates a combination of connected and semi-connected script styles.
Storyteller, on the left side, is connected and has a more calligraphic feel while the Kaleido font on the right side has a more sign painterly feel.
The Miami Marlins Logo—uses a variation on the Benda bold font. There is a double stroke of blue and red on the text which coordinates with the illustration of the Marlin fish and a swooping baseball stitching element that also acts as a flourish accentuating the movement of the fish and the text at the same time. The curvy controlled letter forms are sporty, friendly, and strong all at once.
In this example from the 1942 film Palm Beach story we see a mixture of elements, the focus is on the signature-like script font being used for the name of the associate producer. While it could be argued that it falls into the handwritten category, I have placed it here in the script category because of its elegant movement and controlled appearance. It has an originality that makes it traverse the boundaries of style categories but is clearly still script.
Next up in our line-up of the classifications of typography we’ll be looking at the monospace category.
