skrifttype

Skrifttype is the design of a set of characters used in writing and printing. It encompasses the shapes of letters, numerals, punctuation, and symbols that form a cohesive visual language. It defines not only the individual glyphs but also their overall proportions, stroke contrast, and spacing that govern readability. In typography, the term is often used interchangeably with typeface.

Typefaces are organized into families and styles. A typeface family groups related designs (for example, a serif family with regular, bold, and italic variants). Styles include weight (light to black), width (condensed to expanded), and slant. Serif and sans-serif describe the presence or absence of finishing strokes on letters. Other categories include display, script, and monospaced types.

History and technology: skrifttype originated with metal movable type in the 15th century and evolved with printing technology into digital fonts. Early designs such as Garamond and Caslon influenced legibility, while 20th-century sans-serif faces like Helvetica and Univers offered a modern, neutral look. The advent of scalable vector outlines and font formats (OTF/TTF) enabled precise rendering across devices and sizes.

Usage and considerations: the choice of skrifttype affects readability, tone, and branding. Designers consider legibility in different media, screen rendering, and accessibility, including dyslexia-friendly options. Licensing and licensing models govern the use and distribution of typefaces, which can vary by vendor and project.