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What letterform features distinguish modern typefaces such as Bodoni?
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typography
Stanley Morison designed the typeface called Times New Roman.
Modern typefaces, such as those designed by Giambattista Bodoni, are distinguished by features that reflect the influence of the engraverās tool rather than the traditional pen.1
Key letterform characteristics of modern typefaces include:
- High Contrast: There is a marked and sudden contrast between the thick and thin strokes of the letters, with the thin strokes often appearing exaggeratedly fine.1
- Vertical Stress: Unlike older styles that feature tilted or slanted stress, the stress in modern typefaces is vertical, contributing to a more upright appearance.1
- Serif Design: The serifs are typically thinner and somewhat longer than those found in earlier typefaces.1
- Overall Aesthetic: The letters appear less square and more "up and down," resulting in lines that are more sharply defined compared to the softer, more bracketed forms of old-style type.1
These design choices moved typography away from the imitation of handwritten scripts, favoring a more precise, mechanical aesthetic that became prominent between approximately 1788 and 1820.1