How to Navigate the World of Fonts
Our latest artist in residence – Kirsten Winkelbauer aka Winklebeebee introduces us to the world of fonts. Read on to learn her tips for getting started.
“If you’re going to download and use fonts, it’s your responsibility as an artist and designer to make sure you research what the rules and guidelines are for how you can use them legally and respectfully.”
If you’re just getting into graphic design or other art that involves working with text, one of the most intimidating things can be learning to work with fonts.
The best way to learn about fonts is to practice with them, which brings many people to their first roadblock – where do you find fonts, do you have to pay for them, and how do you know which ones are okay to use commercially?
There are endless resources for fonts online, and it can be overwhelming at first. But with a little research, you can find plenty of options for little to no cost so you can start building up your font library.
Where Can I Find Fonts?
A quick Google search will give you thousands of hits for font downloads, so there’s no shortage of resources. There’s a brief introductory list of some great options:
What does “Commercial Use” and “Public Domain” mean?
License Example
License Example
Something really important to keep in mind when working with fonts : not all fonts are created equal. Just like your art, fonts don’t just appear. Someone had to design and make them, and therefore they are the intellectual property of the creator. Many people allow their fonts to be used freely, while others have rules or guidelines. Here is a quick breakdown of the different types to look out for:
Personal Use Fonts
- Free for non-profit projects
- Can’t be used to make money
- Examples: personal invitations, school work
Commercial Use Fonts
- Used in projects that make money
- Require payment or a license
- Examples: business logos, paid websites, client work
Open Source Fonts
- Free for both personal and commercial use
- Can be modified and shared
- No restrictions on how they’re used
- Example: Google Fonts
Public Domain Fonts
- No copyright restrictions
- Free for any use, including modification and redistribution
- No attribution required
- Examples: fonts created before 1923 in the US
Check out Creative Commons and SIL Open Font License for more info on using fonts in your work.
If you’re going to download and use fonts, it’s your responsibility as an artist and designer to make sure you research what the rules and guidelines are for how you can use them legally and respectfully. If you don’t see a blatant label that states the font’s usage policy, don’t just assume it’s okay to use – dig around a little and almost every time, you’ll find a clearly written license description.
Nobody one wants to spend hours on a design for a product, then find out you’ve used a non-commercial use font by mistake! It’s always worth taking the time to read a website’s FAQs or do a little research so you can be sure the fonts you have can be used worry-free.
Personal vs. Commercial
Example of Public Domain Use
Fonts can be pretty overwhelming at first. With a little time, research, and practice, you’ll start to feel more comfortable and confident in how they can be used. And that’s when the real fun can start!
