There’s quite a few “Periodic Table of Typefaces” T shirts and posters but uchi’s version is not just a Periodic Table of Typefaces for typography geeks done in the ‘style’ of the Periodic Table. uchi’s Typographic Periodic Table uses the actual Periodic Table of Elements, containing both elements and typefaces for chemistry geeks and typography geeks alike. In my opinion, there’s no point in displaying typefaces using such an iconic (and useful) format just because it looks good, without trying, at least, to do justice to both the Periodic Table and typography. Plus I love both science and typography, so had to put the work in…
uchi's Typographic Periodic Table T shirt

uchi’s Typographic Periodic Table T shirt

Periodic Table of Typefaces Men's Forest Green T shirtsuchi’s Periodic Table — a brief description of each typeface group.

There are many styles of type and many classification systems – defined by their visual characteristics (stroke contrast, serif shape, etc) and their historical development or reference. Here, I’ve tried to match typefaces over the ages into their main classifications within the element groups on the Periodic Table. Also, except for the Lanthanoids and Actinoids (Glyphic, Script, Blackletter and Graphic faces) and, where possible, in each element group, the typefaces are in roughly in date order from the top to bottom. There are some notable exceptions for aesthetic reasons. For example, Helevtica, which was made in 1957, had to be Hydrogen!

Want to know your serif from your slab-serif? Read on for a description of each type style.

Typographic Periodic Table of Elements

Typographic Periodic Table of Elements

Alkali metals

Venetian

Venetian typefaces (also known as Humanist) 1400s – 1500s:

Characteristics: Bracketed serifs which are angled on lower case letters and ascenders, curve axis slopes to the left, little contrast between thick and thin strokes.

Alkaline earth metals

Garalde

Garalde typefaces (also known as Old Style and Old Face) 1600s:

Characteristics: Bracketed serifs, curve axis slopes to the left, heavier contrast between thick and thin strokes. The lower case e has a horizontal bar.

Other non metals

Grotesque

Grotesque/neo grotesque typefaces (San serifs) 1700s – 1800s:

Characteristics: No serifs. Slightly squared curves. Grotesque faces have more contrast between thin and thick strokes than the latter more uniform neo grotesque fonts (Helvetica).

Transition metals

Transitional

Transitional (also called Neoclassical or Rationalist) 1700s:

Characteristics: Bracketed serifs which are angled on ascenders and lower case letters, vertical or left inclined axis on curves. Influenced by copperplate engraving. Transitional typefaces incorporate characteristics of the earlier Garalde and the latter Didone type.

Slab serif

Metaloids

Slab-serif (or Egyptian) 1700 – 1800s:

Characteristics: Typefaces with heavy, square-ended serifs, often the same thickness as the main stem of the letters. Serifs can be with or without brackets.

Didone

Post transition metals

Didone (also called Modern) 1700s:

Characteristics: Didone faces feature strong and abrupt contrast between thick and thin strokes. Curve axis are vertical and the lower case serifs of ascenders are generally horizontal. Generally there are no bracketing of serifs.

Geometric Sans Serif

Halogens

Geomteric sans serif 1700 – 1800s:

Characteristics: Geometric fonts are of uniform weight and based on simple geometric shapes, rectangles and circles. Most Geometric fonts have a single story a.

Nobel Gases

Humanist Sans-serif

Humanist sans-serif 1700 – 1800s:

Characteristics: Humanist typefaces are sans-serif faces that follow the proportions of traditional Roman inscribed capital letters and the Garalde (or Old Style) lower case letters. Unlike the monoline geometric fonts they have some contrast between stroke lines and most have a two story a and g.

Lanthanoids

Glyphic and Script fonts

Glyphic:

Characteristics: Typefaces which appear chiselled rather than derived from a calligraphic form.

Script:

Characteristics: Typefaces which imitate cursive handwriting.

Actinoids

Blacketter
Graphic and symbol fonts

Blackletter (Gothic, Fraktur or Old English) c1100 – 1500s:

Characteristics: Typefaces based on early manuscript lettering. Blacketter typefaces have dramatic thin and thick strokes, and elaborate swirls on the serifs. Used in the printing of the Gutenberg Bible in 1450.

Graphic:

Characteristics: Symbols and typefaces which appear drawn rather than derived from a nibbed pen.

Periodic Table of Typefacesa

Typographic Periodic Table of Elements T shirt

Mens T shirt - Typographic Periodic Table - Forest Green

Mens T shirt - Typographic Periodic Table - Denim Blue
Womens T shirt - Typographic Periodic Table - Charcoal Grey

 

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