Papyrus Alternatives

Papyrus is a roman calligraphic typeface with distinctive human touches like rough edges, irregular curves, and high horizontal strokes in the caps. It imparts a warm and friendly ambience to everything from restaurant menus to book covers. American Chris Costello created the popular font Papyrus in 1983 and counts it as one of his proudest accomplishments. In addition to designing type,... Read More

Ingrid Liche was always searching for a new typeface, one that was extremely legible, but that also radiated elegance and understatement. For the new private Paracelsus-Spital Richterswil clinic in Switzerland, she drew a piece of lettering, just the words of the hospital’s name. The clinic directors were so impressed by the specific qualities of the sign that they commissioned her to complete... Read More

Palatino Sans is a 21st Century sans serif typeface from the master German designer Hermann Zapf. Palatino Sans and Palatino Sans Informal was designed as part of a group of three font families: Palatino nova, Palatino Sans, and Palatino Sans Informal. Together these three families act as the fulfilment of Herman Zapf's original Palatino idea. Palatino, which was born as a metal typeface in... Read More

ITC Skylark, from designer Patty King, is an alphabet with a strong handwritten character and calligraphic influences. The figures look as though they were written with a broad-tipped pen on rough paper. The result is a light stroke contrast, irregular outer contours, pointed stroke endings and a clear slant to the right. These characteristics lend the font its spontaneity and liveliness. ... Read More

ITC Cancione is the inspired work of California calligrapher and illustrator Brenda Walton. She gave a rough texture to her tall, thin all caps alphabet and its ornaments, making them look as though they were drawn with a brush on stone and then left to withstand years of weather and wear. The graceful letters are complemented by a variety of ornaments and flourishes as well as alternates and... Read More

Galahad font was designed by the American artist Alan A. Blackman in 1994. It is a sans serif font with a calligraphic flair particularly suited for displays, although its open geometric forms make it a good choice for shorter texts as well. Galahad also includes old style figures and alternate characters, making it a very flexible font.

ITC Tempus is the work of British designer Phill Grimshaw. He claims that every calligrapher's aspiration is to draw perfect roman capitals with a pen, but admits that this is extremely difficult. For this typeface, Grimshaw used a fountain pen on cheap, porous paper and, of course, the ink bled. The resulting forms are classic but their rugged edges deviate from the perfection of roman... Read More

ITC Tempus is the work of British designer Phill Grimshaw. He claims that every calligrapher's aspiration is to draw perfect roman capitals with a pen, but admits that this is extremely difficult. For this typeface, Grimshaw used a fountain pen on cheap, porous paper and, of course, the ink bled. The resulting forms are classic but their rugged edges deviate from the perfection of roman... Read More