Typeface

A typeface is the graphic form of the characters of a given writing system (a set of letters, numerals, and punctuation marks in a single style), and, in printing, a font of type for printing. The typeface determines the appearance, legibility (ease of perception), and aesthetics of a book. The history of type in Cyrillic printing begins with the imitation of the handwritten semi-ustav: such was the type of the first prints of Schweipolt Fiol (Kraków, 1491) and Ivan Fedorovych (Fedorov). In the 18th century, by reform, the 'civil type' arose — simplified, brought closer to Latin antiqua, intended for secular editions. Typefaces are distinguished by purpose (text, display, jobbing), by style (roman, italic, bold), and by historical type (ustav, semi-ustav, antiqua, grotesque). The art of creating typefaces is called type design. The development of Ukrainian printing typography and of a national typeface was studied by bibliologists; modern type studies combine tradition with digital design.