With Hamburgefonstiv (or any variation of it) as the overall measuring stick of a typeface’s design/progress, couldn’t you also use it to identify typefaces? As it shows all the stroke variations used throughout a typeface, it should be a pretty good way to discern different typefaces.
I’m curious also how everyone here goes about identifying typefaces. A lot of it is experience, but are there any other tips/tricks that anyone wants to share?
I don’t know if we need more competition on the Type ID Board (just kiddin’).
It’s experience - looking at a lot of type over years. That will give you a feeling for where to look. Other than that it’s sometimes spotting that glyph that stands out (or gives it away as Yves would say).
A well-organised font (sample) collection, be it digital or print, self-assembled or off the rack.
What the font and Identifont can be a great help, too. Not to forget the various Font ID Guides by Michael Yanega.
Don’t forget good old-fashioned books like Rookledge’s Classic International Typefinder. :-)
Hamburgefonstiv (or any variation of it) […] couldn’t you also use it to identify typefaces?
Yes, it’s my default in FEX – though actually ‘Rafgenducks’ (found in
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