Formal scripts, like Balmoral or Flemish Script, are normally reserved for, as the name suggests, formal occasions. They are most comfortable in applications such as fancy invitations, certificates, and similar “important and official” documents.

Casual scripts have a wider range of personalities. They can be laid-back like Swing, edgy like Smack, ingenuous like Andy, or playful like Benguiat Frisky. Casual scripts are also at home in as diverse places as posters, restaurant menus, and product brochures.

Calligraphic scripts, as the name implies, mimic calligraphic lettering. They can look dashed-off, as in Tiger Rag, or carefully constructed, like Ophelia Italic. Calligraphic scripts are a perfect choice when you want a “human touch” in your graphics.

Blackletter typefaces are designed to look like manuscript lettering prior to the invention of movable type. They range from the traditional but hackneyed Old English to more distinctive alternatives like Bollatica and ITC Tomism. Not subtle, they have strong personas and make powerful statements. Because of this, they should be used sparingly.

Italic Typefaces Italic typefaces are first cousins to scripts. Stylistically, they range from simple obliqued letters to characters that mimic cursive writing. Originally, italic letters were not designed to complement a roman typeface. First used in the 16th century, they were created as independent fonts. Designed as single-weight families, they included only lowercase characters: no caps, numbers, or punctuation. The idea was to use caps and other characters as necessary from whatever font the printer had available. In the 17th century italics became a legitimate part of a type family and had slanted caps and numbers as part of the offering. ITC Novarese, a design that has caused much confusion since its release because of its lack of italic capital letters, is really a traditional interpretation of the italic genre. ITC Cerigo is another variation on the italic theme. The roman lowercase is upright italic characters, while the italic has the same characters with a “faster” slant.

Scripts have always been wonderful communication tools; they just need proper care and feeding to do their work best.