Before the invention of printing press, people used to write in their respective handwritings. It was possible to identify the author of a written material from various works because everyone has unique handwriting. However, writers in the medieval ages developed calligraphy which was to be used for unofficial use.
Calligraphy can be defined as artistic form of writing which was developed manually by people who had passion for art. The good thing about this art is that one does not require any experience in art. The art of calligraphy was initially practiced for the purpose of adding beauty in one’s written work.
Nowadays calligraphers can earn a decent living by designing logos and other items and fields that integrate calligraphy such as textile industry and tattooing. When computers were invented these handwritings were integrated into computers as fonts. Just as they were complex in hardcopies they retained this quality.
Fonts come in different forms and shapes and just like handwritings there are some that are difficult to read. There are some fonts which can not be used in lengthy texts because they occupy a larger space. Examples of such medieval fonts include Ithornet, Cloister Black, Sir Fig, Perry Gcothic, and Teutonic which is appropriate for printed cards and T-shirts.
Other types of fonts such as Strassburg Fraktur, Cardinal, and MilleniGem are good for preserving space because they are designed to occupy minimal writing space.
Using such fonts in websites would confuse users and it would imply that the owners of such a web site are not serious about their business. In brief medieval fonts imitate calligraphy but the good thing about this modern calligraphy is that they are done digitally hence they are not time demanding and tiring like before.
When calligraphy is to be applied manually it takes a lot of time to accomplish the desired design. For instance, fonts such as Saraband and Teutonic would require a lot of concentration in bringing out the correct appearance.
Decorative fonts don’t have smooth edges on their characters thus they look distorted. Gothic fonts are more preferred for casual use because ordinary fonts are perceived to be boring. This means that gothic fonts capitalize on their beauty to capture the attention of the reader. Classic examples are Kingthings Spike, Metal Macabre, Middle Saxony Text, and Ardenwood.
A font should remain readable even when the font size is reduced. But then, some gothic fonts have so many curls and extensions which make them impossible to read when they are in small size hence they are suited for bigger font sizes. In this sense, if we consider writing a book or even a Bible using Rough Tuscan font, it would be difficult to understand the message in case it is in English.
Gothic fonts are good when they are used appropriately hence when one is designing a document it is important to consider the position of the written material that will be occupied by this kind of font. This is because if you use calligraphic font in the preface of a book, you will not drive the intended message home.
Furthermore, the preface will take a bigger space hence loose its meaning in the final end. Additionally, such font should not be used in official documents such as resumes because such documents are supposed to be written in fonts that are readily available in most applications.
Today calligraphy is still in use because it’s very easy to learn as long as one can read and write. Most people like it because the outcome is instant and does not require much effort. Even with the modern technology most people have refused to let go of the ancient calligraphy because it manifests the creativity of an individual.
In fact some people have integrated it into their other cultures such as the tattooing art among the Japanese. This is because some people don’t appreciate the ones that are already installed in computer applications hence they prefer to generate their own which makes them proud of their writing skills.
Works Cited
Asghar, Taimur. “20 Splendid Medieval Fonts for Gothic Typography.” Addictive Fonts. 2010. Web.
Dafont. Gothic: Medieval Fonts. 2010. Web.
Day, Carter, & Meggs. Typographic Design: Form and Communication. 3rd Ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2002. Print.