Typography is an essential aspect of any design project, and choosing the right font can make all the difference. Serif and sans-serif handwriting fonts are two of the most popular options, each with their unique features and benefits. In this post, we’ll explore the differences between these two font types and help you decide which one is best for your project.
What are Serif and Sans-serif Handwriting Fonts?
Serif and sans-serif handwriting fonts are two broad categories of fonts based on the presence or absence of small decorative lines (serifs) at the end of the strokes. Serif handwriting fonts have these decorative lines, while sans-serif fonts do not. Handwriting fonts, in general, have a more informal and natural look, imitating the style of handwritten letters that create a personal presence.
Differences Between Serif and Sans-serif Handwriting Fonts
There are several differences between serif and sans-serif handwriting fonts that can impact their usage and effectiveness in design. Here are a few of the main differences:
- Legibility: Serif fonts are generally considered more readable in printed material, while sans-serif fonts are easier to read on screens. That being said, most modern fonts have already been optimized for screen use as the majority of the world has moved to content being served mainly on-screen.
- Personality: Serif fonts are (typically) associated with tradition, elegance, and formality, while sans-serif fonts are perceived as modern, minimalistic, and casual.
- Usage: Serif fonts are commonly used in print design, such as books, magazines, and newspapers, while sans-serif fonts are popular for digital design, such as websites, apps, and interfaces. But it’s not uncommon to see serifs used for large headline use in digital projects.
Choosing Between Serif and Sans-serif Handwriting Fonts
Choosing the right handwriting font depends on several factors, including the context, purpose, and audience of your design project. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice:
- Consider the medium: If your design is primarily for print, a serif font may be a better choice, while a sans-serif font is often more suitable for digital design.
- Think about the audience: Consider the demographic and culture of your target audience and choose a font that resonates with them.
- Balance the tone: The personality of your chosen font should align with the tone of your design, whether it’s formal, informal, serious or playful.
Top Serif and Sans-serif Handwriting Fonts to Consider
Serif Handwriting Font Picks
Castle On The Hill
Castle On The Hill is the perfect font to express yourself and your creative ideas. It has a very lively, messy hand painted serif style that was made with a Japanese brush pen. Castle On The Hill is extremely unique and expressive as a handwriting design, and creates truly captivating headlines in your design! Whether you’re looking to make book covers, apps or posters, Castle On The Hill will give your project life – so go ahead and download it today!
Enyo Slab
Enyo is a decorative, display, serif handwritten font full of personality and expressive curves. It’s the perfect choice for anyone looking to make a bold statement with their fonts or put an informal twist on graphics design work. Whether you need to add a bit of flourish to some text or create something eye-catching out of nothing, Enyo will be the ace up your sleeve. OpenType features such as ligatures, alternates and fractions further increase the range of possibilities this font can bring to any project. With so much potential for crafting one-of-a-kind designs for your projects, why not give Enyo a try?
Antiquarian Scribe
Antiquarian Scribe is a handwriting serif font that captures the old-world charm of a 17th-century manuscript through its intricate and oblique hand-lettering. The font was developed by Three Islands Press, who based its aesthetic on a page of “Atlas Historique, ou Nouvelle Introduction a L’Histoire” – an historical world atlas published between 1705 and 1732 in Amsterdam. It offers both creative graphic designers and regular users an elegant, antique feel through its lettering inspired by days gone by.
Sans-Serif Handwriting Font Picks
YWFT Thinaire
YWFT Thinaire is a font design by YouWorkForThem that can be used to create the perfect handwritten look for any graphic project. Marketing teams and digital designers will be amazed by the possibilities unlocked by its extensive library of OpenType Contextual Alternates, 335 Glyphs, and 90 OpenType extras. Inspired by the classic YWFT Hannah design, YWFT Thinaire is a much more refined hand-lettering style which includes an elegant lowercase set.
Cheddar Gothic
Cheddar Gothic is a great pick for all sorts of digital design projects, combining handwritten authenticity with excellent structure for any size. This type family actually covers both sans-serif and serif styles, all of which can be used across different applications like packaging, posters, t-shirts stamps or billboards. Not only that but you’ll get matching catchwords and icons too! Graphic designers will love experimenting with its tone of voice—switch between uppercase and lowercase fonts to get a classic look or one that includes extended crossbars and sliced terminals. No matter the project, Cheddar Gothic fonts make an ideal choice to add creativity and a unique touch to every design.
Good Thang
Good Thang Font is an energetic handwriting sans-serif design that radiates fun and youthfulness. From display headlines to larger body content type settings, it’s the perfect font for any project!
From informal to formal, these carefully-crafted handwriting fonts open up an endless world of creative possibilities. Each one brings a unique personality to the table – we are sure one of them is the perfect match!
So Which to Choose?
Serif and sans-serif handwriting fonts are both valuable options for designers, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. When choosing between them, consider the context, audience, and tone of your design. Whether you choose a serif or sans-serif handwriting font, remember that typography plays a crucial role in communicating your message effectively.
At YouWorkForThem, we understand that every project is unique—which is why we offer easy personal font licensing and custom licensing options tailored to your needs. Our corporate licensing options allow you to use our fonts on any number of items in the same medium (such as posters or websites) without restriction on sales volume or budget size, contact us with the details and we’ll get you covered. We also offer customization services if you need help with font customization or large-scale branding campaigns.
Our team is here to help make sure all your projects get off the ground quickly and easily, contact us today!
