Bowfin Printworks - Serif Font Identification Aid/Guide & Text Font Selector - Type Identification

This page shows the way that Coding values are generated for the four Style Codes used in the Serif Guide List (Tab-delimited Text version). The Serif Guide script, written by 'Per Etz' converts these four values so that you can make selections of each characteristic and see the fonts that have those characteristics.

How to use this Font Identification Aid/Guide Coding Matrix

You only need to have a sample with the following 12 letters to use this Font Identification Aid: a, b, e, g, y, E, J, K, M, R, U and W.

There are four tables used to help characterize a typeface in this Identification Guide. The first two are based on lower case letters (minuscules, or miniscules); the next two are only upper case letters (majuscules). This allows narrowing identification choices even without both cases in a sample. With all four codes, I think the identification to a specific typeface is almost assured, as long as I have catalogued it.

The first table uses seven possible variations of the letter 'a' and six combinations of shapes of the letters 'b' and 'e' to get the first Style Code. Decide which letterform shapes match most closely with the sample and note the corresponding Style Code number from the table. With the 'a', there are two basic types -- 2-storey or single storey -- and variations based on the serif shape and placement. There are two basic 'e' types, based on the crossbar angle; and three 'b' varieties, based on the stem.

The second table uses the various shapes of the letters g and y to give the second Style Code. You will note six basic variations of each letter, based on serif shape, and position, as well as tail shape.

The third table uses the various shapes of the letter combinations K & U and E & J to give the third Style Code. You will note nine basic variations of the K (with two treated as one), based on leg shape and stem connection; two forms of the U (with and without a stem); six types of E, based on serifs and arm lengths; and in the two types of 'J', the hook is either below, or on, the baseline.

The fourth table uses the various shapes of the letter M and the combinations R & W to give the fourth and last Style Code. You will note 12 basic variations of the M, based on serifs and leg angles. There are 4 styles of R, based on leg position and shape; and there are 4 'W' forms, based on leg and serif arrangement.

Free Font Identification Service - If you ever see a "mystery" typeface used somewhere that you would like identified, just send me a sample, or send me the URL of a website that uses the typeface, and I will try to tell you the name of the typeface and where you can buy it. e-mail me your font ID question

Table 1


no serif on arch	1	2	3	4	5	6
wedge or triangular serif	7	8	9	10	11	12
line or squared serif	13	14	15	16	17	18
wide straight terminal	19	20	21	22	23	24
pear or ball terminal	25	26	27	28	29	30
single storey with one serif	31	32	33	34	35	36
single storey with two serifs	37	38	39	40	41	42

Table 1 Assumptions:
Assume e is angled type if bar is not completely straight.

Table 2

	curved tail (may have serif)	straight tail (no serif)	straight or wedge serif	clubbed tail	hooked tail	curved bowl
'ear' downward	1	2	3	4	5	6
'ear' upward	7	8	9	10	11	12
'ear' straight	13	14	15	16	17	18
lower bowl open	19	20	21	22	23	24
bowl connection wide left	25	26	27	28	29	30
single storey g	31	32	33	34	35	36

Table 2 Assumptions:
NOTE: Tail form of g is highest priority; ear shape only considered on closed bowl tails .
Assume tail of a y is straight, unless it is obvious that it is not for most of its length.

Table 3

	bowl on baseline	extends below baseline
	lower serif angles outward						lower serif approx vertical
	Middle arm almost equal to upper arm		Middle arm much shorter		No serif on middle arm		Middle arm almost equal to upper arm		Middle arm much shorter		No serif on middle arm
K legs meet at stem no stem	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
K legs do not touch stem	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48
Horiz. line between legs and stem	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72
Upper (or lower) leg is curved	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84
	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96
K legs meet on one leg; both are straight	97	98	99	100	101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108
	109	110	111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
Lower leg flares out, or has half serif	121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130	131	132
	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140	141	142	143	144
Lower leg curves downward	145	146	147	148	149	150	151	152	153	154	155	156
	157	158	159	160	161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168
Upper leg is curved	169	170	171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
	181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190	191	192

Table 3 Assumptions:
Assume legs of K are straight unless they are obviously curved .
Assume legs of K meet at their ends, unless it is obvious they do not.
Assume lower serif on E is vertical, unless it obviously is not.

Table 4


	half serifs	one or no serif	full serifs	crotch not on baseline			Splayed legs
R leg starts at/near stemcrossed legs	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
center legs at/near serif	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
no center serif	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36
W stepped	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48
R leg mostly straight; starts away from stem	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59	60
	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69	70	71	72
	73	74	75	76	77	78	79	80	81	82	83	84
	85	86	87	88	89	90	91	92	93	94	95	96
R leg has strong flip	97	98	99	100	101	102	103	104	105	106	107	108
	109	110	111	112	113	114	115	116	117	118	119	120
	121	122	123	124	125	126	127	128	129	130	131	132
	133	134	135	136	137	138	139	140	141	142	143	144
R leg arched; no/small flip	145	146	147	148	149	150	151	152	153	154	155	156
	157	158	159	160	161	162	163	164	165	166	167	168
	169	170	171	172	173	174	175	176	177	178	179	180
	181	182	183	184	185	186	187	188	189	190	191	192

Table 4 Assumptions:
Assume W is type 2 form, unless center legs meet well below serif.
Assume R is type 1 as long as leg originates at or near stem.
Consider R as type 2 when leg originates well away from stem on the bowl.
Consider R as type 3 whenever there is a very pronounced upward flip to the leg
terminal, regardless of the leg origin.
Legs of M are considered vertical, unless at least one leg is obviously splayed.
M is type 2, 5, 8 or 11 whenever one or both upper serifs is missing.

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Date of this page version: 12 Jun 2006