Didot

Didot is a group of typefaces named after the famous French printing and typeface family active in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Didot family were among the first to set up a printing press in the newly independent Greece, and typefaces in the style of Didot have remained popular in Greek since.

History

The Didot family were active as designers for about 100 years in the 18th and 19th centuries. They were printers, publishers, typeface designers, inventors and intellectuals. Around 1800 the Didot family owned the most important print shop and font foundry in France. The family was influential in the development of the French Enlightenment because of their innovation in print technologies.

Characteristics

Didot is characterized by its extreme contrast in weight variations. The font is often used in fashion magazines and logos due to its elegant and distinctive characteristics. The font is also known for its clear, classic and crisp appearance. The Didot types defined the characteristics of the modern (or Romantic) style of typeface, with their extreme contrast in stroke weights, and are a key part of the development of modern printed design.

Usage

Didot is used in a variety of areas. It is often used in fashion magazines, logos, and book design. It is also used in the fashion industry, particularly in branding and logo design. The font is also popular in the publishing industry, where it is used for its clear, classic and crisp appearance.

See also

• Typography
• Typeface
• Printing press
• French Enlightenment