Bodoni
B B B B
“The letters don’t get their true delight when done in haste & discomfort, nor merely done with diligence & pain, but first when they are created with love and passion.” - Giambattista Bodoni
B B B B B B
BBBB BBBB BBBB
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Introduction.................5
Comparative Analysis..20
Usage.........................28 Sources.......................54
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History........................10
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CONTENTS
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What is
Bodoni? Bodoni is classified as a Modern Serif typeface that broke traditions of classical font styles in the 18th century. Instead of using the Old Style characteristics of angled serifs and low contrast, Bodoni presented itself as a clean and simple typeface characterized by its high contrast of strokes, straight serifs, and totally vertical axis. The typeface has since inspired the creation of countless variations of the original cut and is a common font used for display.
introduction
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Giambat
history
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ttista Bodoni Giambattista Bodoni was born in 1740 at Saluzzo in Savoy into a family with printmaking backgrounds. His work with printmaking began early when he started working as an apprentice in the Roman Catholic Churchʼs Propaganda Fide printing house in 1758. Later, in 1768, Bodoni took leadership of the ducal printers in Parma, the “Stamperia Reale”, and was employed by Duke Ferdinand. Three years after the start of his work in Parma, Bodoni produced his first font pattern book and printed the homage book shortly after. The publishing of these type books allowed Bodoni to be able to open his own publishing house in 1791, Officina Bodoni. In the 1790s, Bodoni began to develop an entirely new kind of type that rejected the decorative style of faces used at the time. This new type was based on high contrast of strokes combined with unbracketed hairline serifs to create simple forms with a plain style. This type was published in Bodoniʼs most famous specimen books, Manuale Tipografico, by his widow in 1818. The work shows an array of 142 roman alphabets and a collection of flowering ornamentals and geometric patterns.
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1818
1910
Revival
The Manuale Tipografico was printed in 1818 in two volumes with 142 Roman alphabets.
Morris Fuller Benton was the director of typographic development when he designed the first modern revival of Bodoni in 1910. While researching the font, Benton tried to choose the best qualities from multiple examples of books printed by Bodoni. This resulted in a typeface that is an interpretation of the original work created by Bodoni rather than an exact replication. The typeface was an instant success and served as the foundation for every variation of Bodoni that would be created from that point on.
BodoniĘźs work in the Manule Tipographico was much higher quality than much of the work originating prior to and during his lifetime. While Bodoni was a new typeface, it was greatly influenced by Baskerville and Didot and follows the style of those typefaces. It is classified as a Modern Serif, but still has hints of Old Style that come from the Baskerville and Didot influence.
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1740 1771 1788 Bodoni was born at Saluzzo in Savoy
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Bodoni printed his first font pattern book
Bodoni produced Manuale Tipographico
1813 1818 1910
bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni American Type bodoni Founders came out bodoni with the first modern bodoni revival of Bodoni bodoni created by Morris bodoni Fuller Benton bodoni bodoni bodoni 18 bodoni
Bodoni passes in Parma, Italy at the age of 73
publishes Manuale Tipographico along with a second edition of the work.
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bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni
bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni
bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodon bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni bodoni
Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni
36 pt
48 pt
60 pt
72 pt
limitations
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Bodoni Book
30 pt
Bodoni 24 pt
comparative p analysis
Bodoni Bodoni
18 pt
14 pt
Bodoni 12 pt Bodoni 10 pt
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Bodoni is intended for and best used as a display typeface. The extreme contrast of the strokes will not reproduce well at smaller sizes, which can lessen readability and corrupt the appearance of the face. Each version of Bodoni has a “sweet spot� size range, and putting the face in a size outside that range can result in the appearance of the thins, spacing, and readability to be compromised.
Bodoni Roman(18 pt)
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890 Bodoni Roman Italic(18 pt)
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890
Bodoni Book (18 pt)
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890 Bodoni Book Italic (18 pt)
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890 23
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pg
Bodoni Bold (18 pt)
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890 Bodoni Bold Italic (18 pt)
w
AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890
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c
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Bodoni Bold Condensed(18 pt)
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AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMm NnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 1234567890
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Cuts of Bodoni
Ñæ
Î
Ü
¥
Bodoni Classic
Œ
Bauer Bodoni
Bodoni Antiqua
(Adobe) Bodoni
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¤
Ω
Bodoni MT (Monotype)
Ø
£
Bodoni Old Face
eye
America
Cap height x height
bracket
crossbar
stem Ascender
baseline
usage
decender
Foun vertical stress
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aperature
an Type counter
terminal
ndry 30
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll MmNn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 31
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Identifying Characteristics Slight serif bracketing Cupped top serifs on b, h, and l; not parallel basline in some versions
Top and bottom serifs on C
Large ball terminal of c
Small upper bowl of g
Vertical tail of Q
No middle serif on w
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Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni Bodoni
Typeface
Pairings
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Bodoni Futura 35
Complementary
Contrasting
Since Bodoni is most often intended to be used as a display face, it is best paired with simple, geometric sans serifs, such as Futura. Bodoni is not suited for large passages of text because the verticality of the letterform
While it can be dangerous to pair similar fonts together, Bodoni and Garamond
intereferes with the textĘźs horizontal rhythm,
work well together because they are just different enough. Pairing these faces
so a basic typeface like Futura is able to take on that role. Bodoni and Futura have entirely
together will not cause visual discordance. The subtle differentiating characteristic
opposite identifying characteristics - Bodoni
of the Old Style Garamond - more open lower case characters with generous
having extreme contrast between strokes,
counters, larger capitals, and a delicate grace to the curved strokes - allow for a
hairline serifs, small x-height, vertical stress in
successful contrast between the two serifs that enables them to work well together.
rounded strokes and Futura having little to no variation between strokes, no serifs, larger x-height, no stress in rounded strokes - making these two faces an ideal pair.
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Bodoni Garamond 38
Bodoni Didot
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incompatible
Bodoni works best with typeface that are text typefaces because Bodoni is a display face. Bodoni, although influenced by it, is not compatible with Didot because Didot is also a display font that possess the same characteristics as Bodoni. The extreme contrast in strokes, hairline serifs, and verticality of these two display faces make them both unsuitable to be used in large bodies of text because they would lose readibility. In addition, these faces are too similar to one another to be used together, so they would cause visual discordance if used together.
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BodoniĘźs extreme contrast is one of the characteristics that defines it as a Modern Display face. Due to those characteristics, Bodoni is a common font used in branding, magazines, and billboards because it creates a clean, high-end look. Vogue was the first to begin incorporating letterforms in their total approach to the design of the magazine. The exaggerated height and verticality of ascenders and descenders of the letterforms allowed for a sophisticated look and feel, especially when combined with the photography and additional design.
Sources have contradicting information about which typeface is used in fashion magazines. Some sources say that Bodoni is the face used in these magazines, while others claim that the face used is Didot. These are very similar faces, as the first cut of Bodoni was also inspired by Didot, so both faces allow for the same sophisticated look.
Bodoni in Fashion 44
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The Modern and simple yet sophisticated look of Bodoni leads it to be used for many high end logos and brandmarks 46
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Bodoni in Entertainment
The many variations of Bodoni created over time are also commonly found in many brandmarks and advertisements, such as the Nirvana logo.
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The clarity of the font as a display font allows it to catch the eye while having good readability, so as a result it is used for advertisements commonly in the entertainment industry.
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5 sources
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Bodoni, Giambattista. Manuale Tipographico. 1818. “Bodoni Font Family Typeface Story.” Fonts.com, Fonts.com, www.fonts.com/font/linotype/bodoni/story. “Bodoni.” The Thames & Hudson Dictionary of Graphic Design and Designers, Alan Livingston, and Isabella Livingston, Thames & Hudson, 3rd edition, 2012. Credo Reference, https://login.libezproxy2.syr.edu/ login?url=http://search.credoreference.com /content/ entry/thgraph/bodoni/0?institutionId=499. Accessed 27 Nov 2017. Cleland, T. M. 1880-1964. Giambattista Bodoni of Parma. Boston: Society of Printers, 1916. “Family Classifications of Type.” Families of Type, Spokane Falls, graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/ typebasics/modern.htm.
Flask, Dominic. “Type Classification.” Design Is History, www. designishistory.com/1450/type-classification/. “Giambattista Bodoni.” Famous Graphic Designers, 2017, www. famousgraphicdesigners.org/giambattista-bodoni. Haley, Allan. “Type Classifications.” Fonts.com, www.fonts. com/content/learning/fontology/level-1/type-anatomy/ type-classifications Steven, Rachael. “Bodoni through the Ages.” Creative Review, 19 May 2016, www.creativereview.co.uk/bodoni-through-the-ages/. Strizver, Llene. “TypeTalk: Good Looking Bodoni at Any Size.” CreativePro.com, Creative Publishing Network, 22 Mar. 2016, creativepro.com/typetalk-good-looking-bodoni-at-any-size/.
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