3 Awesome (Totally Free) Fonts that Pack an Extra Punch
Fonts can make or break a design. No matter how gorgeous the graphics are, without a strong typeface an entire design can run the risk of falling flat. There are so many beautifully designed typefaces floating out there in the world that you are certain to find the right one if you have some time to kill and a lot of patience to go searching for it.
So, the good news is that there are literally thousands of typefaces out there to choose from. The bad news is that there are literally thousands of typefaces out there to choose from. It can be overwhelming selecting one that speaks to your design or, an even tougher task, your brand. Trying to select a font that encompasses that perfect feeling or mood can be tough! Sometimes one font may not even cut it on its own. Luckily there are some insanely creative font designers out there who have thought ahead and created a font package that can take you far with just one download.
FontFabric.com, dafont.com, fontquirrel.com, fontface.com, and 1001fonts.com are just some of the sites out there that offer many free fonts available for immediate download to get you off and running. Today, I’ve selected 3 of my current favorites that hail from FontFabric.com which are so insanely versatile you could use them in nearly any capacity! Let's dive in...
CANTER
First up, Canter. Available for download here.
Canter is an all caps, condensed typeface available in 6—yes, 6!— different weights. It was designed as a display type for titles, headlines, and posters by Christopher J. Lee from New York, USA and the best part about it? It’s FREE! Canter is a beautifully versatile font that is sophisticated and modern with a touch of cheekiness in the addition of the Bold Strips style. Having 6 different weights in one free download provides an endless array of design opportunities even if this is the only font you’re using in your type design. I love condensed fonts for their modernity and slender lines; they add sophistication and simplicity to a design that you often can’t achieve with a bulkier counterpart. An added bonus is the space saving aspect when it comes to headlines; having thinner letterforms allows you to sneak a few more characters into the mix as opposed to using a very rounded font which expands more from side to side. Be wary of using a condensed font for large blocks of content! In fact, just don’t do it. The condensed format isn’t so great for reading long lines of text and can cause your eyes to lose their focus. If you’re using it as an attention-grabbing headline, however, then go for it!
BERNIER
Next in line, Bernier. Download it here.
Bernier comes with 3 different styles, Regular, Distressed & Shade and is Designed by Ryan Pyae from Yangon, Myanmar. It is perfect for use in a vintage badge, old school style typography, and logotypes. It’s uppercase only and even though the differences in the styles are subtle, they provide a huge opportunity to create depth and dimension with your type design. Each capital letterform has a little flair to it which makes reading a keyword or headline super interesting as it leads your eye across the word. Having the textured style as an option creates a depth and slight grittiness you couldn’t achieve with a solid character. Pairing all 3 together in a design by layering and scaling the proportions gives the illusion you’re using more fonts than you really are. The totally free font is gorgeous in vintage applications and packs a lot of punch for one little download.
NEXA RUST
Third on the list, Nexa Rust. Snag your download here.
Designed by Radomir Tinkov, Svetoslav Simov, Ani Petrova & Vasil Stanev of FontFabric, Nexa Rust is a multifaceted font system consisting of font sub-families Sans, Slab, Script, Handmade and Extras. It is a rough version of the already popular Nexa and Nexa Slab families with added new matching Nexa Script and Nexa Handmade fonts. Along with all of this, you will also discover added groups of extras which could serve as a foundation or add that extra “cherry on the cake” to each unique design.
This bad boy is an INSANELY versatile font. I mean it, these guys weren’t kidding around when they created this thing. If this font fits your style you will never need to download another one in your life. The full package with every alternate, ligature, extra, weight and style does cost $279.00 and if you have the budget for it you should totally spring for it, but the makers have decided that you can get a few of the staples absolutely free and let me tell you, they’re good ones that you will definitely find a way to use. If you’re creating a logo, advertisement, publication, really anything you are bound to be successful when you pair these beautiful options together. The versatility of layering, shadows, textures and softer styles like the Script option allow you to create designs that are detailed, have depth and can take on nearly any look from modern to vintage. You even get a handful of extras with the free download that will help enhance any design. If you enjoy using unique typefaces then this one is a must have for your library.
There are tons of other fonts out there that come in gigantic package deals, you just have to look for them! Get out there and hunt down your favorite. I'd love to hear what great bundle you've come across that you just love working with!
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