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Using Free Fonts: A Typography Lesson for Scrapbookers

Understanding the basic principles of typography can make it easier to design attractive layouts for your scrapbook album.

A Typography Lesson for Scrapbookers

Graphic designers group fonts into several different categories:

Serif fonts are those which have small stokes or “feet” at the ends of the letters. Serif fonts are most often used when typing large blocks of text, since they are the easiest to read. Times New Roman is the most common example of a serif font.
Sans serif fonts are those which lack the extra detailing at the ends of the individual letters. They are often used for headlines, titles, and other short blocks of text. Arial is the most common example of a sans serif font.
Script fonts are those that resemble handwritten letters. Some look like casual notes, while others have the look of fancy calligraphy.
Ornamental fonts are those which are highly decorative and designed to evoke a particular feeling. For example, an ornamental Halloween font may feature blood dripping from the individual letters or the letter “O” drawn to look like a pumpkin.
Dingbat fonts, sometimes referred to as symbol fonts, are not actual letters. They are a series of tiny images that correspond with each character on your keyboard. They often have a specific theme, such as a flowers, sports, or travel.

Concordant relationships occur when only one type family is used in a project, with little variations in size, weight, or style. The effect is tasteful and harmonious, but can be overly formal and sedate in some circumstances. In comparison, a contrasting relationship occurs when you combine separate typefaces that have distinct differences in size, weight, and style. A contrasting relationship adds excitement and visual interest to your project.

Using Fonts on Your Scrapbook Pages

There are many creative ways to experiment with fonts in your scrapbook album. For example:

Highlight important words in your scrapbook journaling with a secondary font. If you’re feeling exceptionally creative, try spelling out a “secret” message with these highlighted words.
You can support the theme of your page with a font that incorporates a seasonal element. For example, a font that looks like candy canes would be a great choice to use in a title on a Christmas layout.
Use a script font to mimic the look of your handwriting or have your handwriting turned into a custom font using a service such as (http://www.fontshop.com/services/handfont.php Font Shop).
Try using a character from a dingbat font as a simple page embellishment. This is a great way to create unique scrapbook pages when you’re working with a tight budget.

Finding Free Fonts Online

The Internet is a great resource for those in search of free scrapbooking fonts for their pages. To start your collection, check out the following helpful links:

If you are looking for a match to a font that you’ve seen in a magazine or newspaper, try using the Identifont Web site to come up with a name for the typeface you are seeking.