Suitcase Fusion 3 User Guide for Mac OS - Extensis

Working with Classifications
A font’s classification (class) describes its general look in historic terms—serif, sans serif, script, old style, etc.
When fonts are added to Suitcase Fusion, they are classified according to subjective design attributes.
Therefore, you may not agree with the classification of each font or you may feel limited by the default
classification list. You can work with classifications as follows:
• If you’re looking for fonts with a specific look, you can sort fonts by classification in the Fonts pane.
• You can use the Find controls to list only fonts with specific classifications.
• You can create smart sets to display an up-to-date list of all the fonts with specific classification.
• Each font can have only one classification applied to it.
• The classification applies to the font itself, so the font displays the same classification in all sets and all
libraries.
• You can add custom classifications, change the classification of fonts and revert to the default
classification.
Classifying Fonts
When fonts are added to Suitcase Fusion, they are automatically assigned a classification. A font’s classification
is determined by comparing the font’s family name to an internal database of font family names and their
classifications. If Suitcase Fusion is unable to determine a font’s classification, two hyphens display in the Class
column.
The default font classification is not always appropriate or desirable, often due to the subjective nature of font
classification. Although the classifications are based on conventional typographic principles, font classification is
not a science. That’s why Suitcase Fusion makes it possible to change a font’s classification and create
classifications.
The default classifications are:
Blackletter/Uncial: A Blackletter typeface, such as Goudy Text, is characterized by medieval or
old English lettering, with ornate capitals, roughly diamond-shape serifs, and thick, mostlyvertical
strokes. Uncial, generally perceived as Celtic or Irish, is also an archaic form, with
rounded letters and calligraphic qualities. American Uncial is a common Uncial typeface.
Clarendon: A Clarendon (or Ionic) typeface, such as Bookman, is an offspring of the slab serif
typefaces in which the serifs are bracketed and the letterforms are more akin to sans serif letters,
although contrast is usually low. They are popular for newspaper work because the sturdy serifs
hold up well under adverse printing conditions. Besides Clarendon itself, Bookman is the most
common Clarendon typeface.
Grotesque sans: A Grotesque sans typeface, such as Univers, is the original sans serif
letterform—functional and utilitarian. (Note that the term is a classification, and not a judgment of
beauty.) Helvetica and Franklin Gothic are common Grotesques.
Humanist sans: A Humanist sans typeface, such as Gill Sans, is a sans serif typeface inspired by
other letterforms, commonly serif or inscriptional models. Syntax and Optima are Humanist sans
serifs.
Modern: A Modern serif typeface, such as Fenice, is characterized by vertical stress and strong
contrast. Modern serifs and horizontals are very thin, almost hairlines. The serifs join to letters
with an angle rather than a rounded join. Bodoni is the most common Modern typeface.
Oldstyle: An Oldstyle serif typeface, such as Garamond, is characterized by low to moderate
contrast, diagonal stress, and serifs with a rounded join to the letter. Goudy Oldstyle and
Garamond are common Oldstyle typefaces.
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