Explore why decorative display type collapses at small sizes, and why body type looks plain when blown up on billboards.
Characteristics of Display Fonts
Display fonts are designed to command attention at 24px and above. They feature intricate details, extreme stroke contrasts, tight default spacing, and expressive flourishes. If used for body copy, their thin hair lines vanish, and tight counters clog, causing severe eye strain.
Characteristics of Text Fonts
Text fonts are engineered for sustained reading between 12px and 18px. They have robust serifs or terminals, open counters, generous default letter-spacing, and modest stroke modulation to withstand rendering blur.