Though not written by hand, it imitates cursive handwriting which immediately creates associations in your mind with a personal touch. The use of a script typeface automatically adds a sense of style and sophistication to what you’re making. From wedding invitations to ads, script is no stranger to printed materials. Script typefaces have been used in a variety of ways in the modern era. Likewise, calligraphy fonts can go heavy on the flourishes at times, obscuring the letters. For instance, Gaelic style script typefaces are blocky yet maintain elements of cursive on some occasions making it difficult to read. Of course, some script fonts are still rather illegible. They’re more casual and easier to read than both cursive handwriting and early examples of script typefaces. The script typefaces as we know them today found in printed materials and online were developed in the 20th century and are often a bit more relaxed than their predecessors. When replicated in digital format nowadays, brush script fonts mimic this lightweight style, which carries numerous imperfections and brushstrokes, lending it for use in anything that needs a personal or authentic touch. Calligraphy was created using a brush, which resulted in a feathery, delicate style of writing. 1976 Jean Patou 1000 Perfume Ad – Image source: eBayīrush scripts, on the other hand, found their beginnings in Asia. This same style found a revival in the 1970s, where script flourishes dominated advertising across every niche. This elegant lettering was then engraved onto copper plates, which could be used in printing. This type of curlicue, scroll-laden handwriting you’d find in manuscripts written with a quill and ink.ĭuring this period of time, British aristocracy was quite fond of calligraphy, which was made entirely possible by the use of a pointed nib. Rather, script typefaces are inspired by physical cursive handwriting that was used around the 18th century. We’re talking long before typewriters and word processing here. Cursive fonts are formally referred to as script typefaces and they’ve existed for several hundred years.

Cursive fonts on mac