What Font Is This? How to Identify Any Font Like a Pro
Ever come across a unique, eye-catching font and wondered, “What font is this?” Identifying fonts can feel like a challenge, especially when there are thousands of typefaces out there. Luckily, with the right tools and a bit of know-how, you can identify nearly any font you encounter. Here’s how to become a pro at font identification.
Use Font Identification Tools
There are several font recognition tools available online that make the process quick and easy. Here are some popular ones:
What The Font by My Fonts: This tool lets you upload an image of the text you’re trying to identify. It then scans the font and suggests possible matches. You can try it with almost any text, whether it’s on an advertisement, a website, or a social media post.
Font Squirrel Matcherator: Another effective tool that works similarly to What The Font. You upload an image, and Matcherator provides a list of font suggestions based on the uploaded text.
Adobe Capture: Adobe’s Capture app has a feature specifically for font identification. Simply point your camera at the text, and the app will analyze it to find font matches. It’s especially handy for on-the-go font identification.
Check for Built-In Font Information on Websites
If you’re browsing a website and see a font you love, there’s often an easy way to find out what it is. Here’s how:
Browser Inspector Tool: Right-click on the text and select “Inspect” (or “Inspect Element” in some browsers). Look through the code to find the “font-family” CSS property, which usually specifies the font being used. This is especially helpful if you’re curious about fonts on popular sites.
Use Image-Based Font Search Engines
For situations where you’re working from a photograph or image, try these font-identification methods:
Upload to Google Image Search: Sometimes, a search in Google Images with the phrase “font used in [specific image or design]” can bring up useful information. If the font is popular or widely used, there may be discussions about it online.
Pinterest and Font Databases: Platforms like Pinterest often have curated collections of fonts. Searching for keywords that describe the font style (e.g., “modern sans-serif” or “handwritten script font”) can bring up similar options or exact matches.
Learn the Basic Font Families and Styles
Developing a basic understanding of font styles can make identification easier. Here are some of the main categories:
Serif Fonts: These have small “feet” or lines at the ends of each character, like Times New Roman or Georgia.
Sans-Serif Fonts: Clean and without decorative strokes, like Arial or Helvetica.
Script Fonts: Mimic cursive handwriting, ranging from elegant calligraphy to more casual styles.
Display Fonts: Designed for attention-grabbing headlines or logos. They’re often more decorative and unique.
By knowing these categories, you can narrow down your search even before using a font recognition tool.
Ask for Help in Font Identification Communities
Font enthusiasts are often willing to help identify fonts. Consider joining font identification groups on social media platforms or forums, where people can provide expert suggestions based on a photo of the font. Websites like Reddit’s r/identifythisfont or specialized forums like Typophile are great places to start.
Keep a Library of Favorite Fonts
Once you’ve identified a font, save it in your own digital library for future reference. This can be as simple as creating a folder on your computer or using font management software like Adobe Fonts or Google Fonts to save your favorite typefaces.
Final Thoughts
Learning to identify fonts is a valuable skill, especially if you work in design or content creation. With these tips, identifying fonts will become second nature, and you’ll be able to recognize and use the perfect fonts for every project. So the next time you ask, “What font is this?” you’ll be well on your way to finding the answer like a true font connoisseur.
