No matter the product or service they provide, every company wants to catch the eyes of potential consumers. Using script fonts for branding is one way to achieve this, but there are a few things you should know about before using them in your designs. This article will tell you more about script typefaces and what you should look for when using them.

What Are Script Typefaces?

Script typefaces are fonts that resemble actual handwriting and calligraphy. They can be used for both formal and informal purposes, where they’ll look elegant for the former and playful for the latter. They can be connected, semi-connected, or unconnected. This refers to the flow between letters that can create beautiful lettering if combined.

Why Are They Used?

Designed to match the appeal of human writing, they can give a touch of personality to your work. Uniquely designed, Script typefaces look authentic and original. They can catch the eyes of potential consumers with their uniqueness, making your brand stand out from your competitors.

Script typefaces can also make your brand come across as friendly and approachable. They are especially great for companies that want this specific kind of brand personality and give off the feeling of being personal, such as creative companies and fashion brands.

What You Should Know About Script Fonts

While their strengths make them great for attracting potential consumers to your business, they have their weaknesses that you should always consider.

Their most glaring weakness is that they’re not precisely the most accessible fonts to read. Like actual handwriting, they are filled with so much character that sometimes it becomes too much and makes their legibility suffer. Writings are meant to be read first and foremost. They mustn’t just be eye-catching but also readable.

Imagine if a potential consumer sees your brand and can’t read its name because of an illegible script font you’re using. They would immediately brush it off, and your brand wouldn’t be memorable at all for them. There’s also the possibility of someone misreading your brand’s name and message, which you should avoid at all costs.

Their second weakness is that too much use of them overwhelms readers. Their decorative nature distracts the eyes, and people are prone to look away if there’s too much going on. Using them for a considerable text block also makes your writing less legible and confuses readers. Your message won’t get through to others this way.

How to Use Them Effectively

Despite their weaknesses, using script fonts can still benefit you as long as you use them correctly. Below are a few tips that can make them shine in your design.

Use Them Sparingly

Script typefaces shine best when you keep them short. The typeface can attract people’s attention while not sacrificing your message’s readability. Long sections of the typeface tire out readers, making them less likely to read your message until the very end.

Instead of using them for body text, use them for headers or callouts. Use them to make people look at your message or design, not to convey the whole message. You can use another type of font that is easier to read for the body text so that people can get the message you want to convey.

Watch Your Spacing

Most script typefaces are designed to look like cursive handwriting that has their letters connect and flow together. A script typeface’s kerning or space between letters is usually designed for it to look good automatically. Further adjusting the kerning yourself may disturb the already perfect flow. It would help if you kept this in mind when adjusting the spacing of your fonts.

Script typefaces also tend to have exaggerated ascenders and descenders. This means you should also keep the leading or space between lines of text in mind. Make sure these ascenders and descenders don’t run into other lines of text and make your writing unreadable.

Script fonts have their weaknesses, but using them effectively can benefit you and your business. As a typeface that looks unique and original, its primary use is to get the attention of potential consumers. Use legible script typefaces for your designs and try to keep them short. This way, people are likely interested in looking at your design and still get the message you want to convey. Happy designing!