phototype – Variable Fonts

Variable Fonts v0.2

A simple resource for finding and trying variable fonts

⚠️ Notice: As a showcase of variable fonts, this site requires a web browser that supports OpenType font variation technology. It looks like your browser doesn’t, so please consider upgrading to one that does (the latest versions of Chrome work well, even on older operating systems). Otherwise, the font samples below will only appear as static fonts.

Tags /

phototype

Typefaces that evoke type design from the phototypesetting era.

Variable fonts tagged with “phototype”

25 results

Exposure VAR

  • Exposure
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Exposure Italic
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
-100 100

A serif typeface that emulates varying levels of photographic exposure or ink spread.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, serif, closed in, filled counters, multiplexed, multiplexed weight, oldstyle, phototype, rounded, soft corners, stub serifs, unusual variation
Design:Federico Parra Barrios
Publisher:205TF
Characters:Latin
Released:2022-04-07
Licensing:Paid/commercial, Trial
Info/fonts:205.tf

Megabase Color Variable & Megabase Stripe Variable

  • Megabase Color Variable
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Megabase Stripe Variable
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
-15 15

Experimental adaptations of Megabase Open exploring solutions for layered gradient variable fonts. While true gradients in variable color fonts aren’t technically possible at the moment, the effect is simulated with stripes of color (which can be modified in a custom-made preview tool).

Tags: decorative/display, sans, backslant, color, futuristic/sci-fi, horizontal stress, modular, multiplexed, multiplexed posture, outline, ornamented, phototype, psychedelic, straight-sided, unusual variation, variable posture
Design:David Jonathan Ross
Publisher:DJR, Font of the Month Club
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2020-10-01
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:djr.com

Swear Variable

  • Swear Variable
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Swear Variable Italic
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Swear Cilati Variable
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
0 1000
0 1000

​A sharp serif typeface with two separate italic styles – one with a fairly traditional structure and another where the placement of weight shifts around for more horizontal stress. Offered with discounted pricing while it’s still a work in progress.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, serif, fat-face, horizontal stress, optical sizes, phototype, pinched joints, sharp, wavy/wiggly
Design:James T. Edmondson
Publisher:OH no Type Co.
Characters:Latin
Released:2020-08-24
Updated:2020-11-17
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:ohnotype.co

Degular Variable

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
0 1000
0 10
0 1000

James Edmondson’s take on a general-purpose “boring” sans.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, sans, geometric, feature variations, gothic, ink traps, monoline, multiplexed, neo-grotesque, optical sizes, phototype, pinched joints, variable posture
Design:James T. Edmondson
Publisher:OH no Type Co.
Characters:Latin
Released:2020-04-01
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:ohnotype.co

Dattilo DJR Banner Variable

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
200 900

A variable subset of the Banner optical size range from DJR’s Dattilo revival, optimized for large display settings with extra-tight 1970s-style spacing.

Tags: decorative/display, slab serif, feature variations, monoline, phototype
Design:David Jonathan Ross
Publisher:DJR, Font of the Month Club
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2020-03-01
Updated:2020-05-01
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:djr.com

Fraunces

  • Fraunces
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Fraunces Italic
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
9 144
100 900
0 100
0 1

​A typeface that takes cues from some early 20th-century typefaces with soft serifs, like Windsor, Cooper, and Souvenir.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, serif, Art Nouveau, cartoon, feature variations, optical sizes, phototype, rounded, soft corners, stub serifs, unusual variation, woman-designed
Design:Phaedra Charles, Flavia Zimbardi
Publisher:Undercase Type
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2020-02-26
Licensing:Open source
Info/fonts:undercase.xyz

FS Kitty VF

  • FS Kitty VF
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 0123456789
  • FS Kitty Outline VF
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 0123456789
1 1000
1 1000

​A bubbly display face with separate fonts that can be layered for multi-color / outline effects.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, all caps, cartoon, chromatic, modular, multi-line, multiplexed, multiplexed weight, outline, ornamented, phototype, plump/convex, rounded, shade, unusual variation
Design:Phil Garnham, Jason Smith
Publisher:Fontsmith Ltd.
Characters:Latin (limited)
Released:2019-10-29
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:fontsmith.com

FS Kim VF

  • FS Kim VF
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • FS Kim VF Italic
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
10 100
400 900

​A stylish wedge-serif typeface.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, serif, inscriptional, optical sizes, phototype, sharp, wedge serif, woman-designed
Design:Krista Radoeva
Publisher:Fontsmith Ltd.
Characters:Latin
Released:2019-10-29
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:fontsmith.com

Antonia Variable

  • Antonia Variable
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
  • Antonia Variable Italic
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
300 900
8 48

A serif typeface with a large range of optical size variation, for everything from small body text to extra-large headlines. It’s the first variable font release from Typejockeys.

Tags: decorative/display, body text, serif, optical sizes, phototype, woman-designed
Design:Franziska Weitgruber, Michael Hochleitner
Publisher:Typejockeys
Characters:Latin
Released:2019-05-15
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:typejockeys.com

Roslindale Variable Italic

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
0 1
-8 0

​An experiment in italicization, this one-off member of the Roslindale type series can vary its italic forms separately from the angle of slanting. The vast majority of typefaces change italic forms along with slanting, so this may be the first case of both the registered ‘italic’ and ‘slant’ axes being used in the same variable font.

Tags: decorative/display, serif, feature variations, flared/concave, inscriptional, phototype, pinched joints, sharp, unusual variation, upright italic, variable posture, wedge serif
Design:David Jonathan Ross
Publisher:DJR, Font of the Month Club
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2019-01-01
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:djr.com

Marvin Visions

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 0123456789
    АБВГДЕЖЗИЙКЛМНОПРСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯ
20 170
80 100

​A reinterpretation and expansion of Marvin, Michael Chave’s 1969 phototypesetting typeface. The new design was initially developed for use in Visions, a science-fiction magazine.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, geometric, all caps, futuristic/sci-fi, optical sizes, phototype
Design:Mathieu Triay
Publisher:Atelier Triay
Characters:Latin, Cyrillic
Released:2018-12-03
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial, Free for non-commercial use
Info/fonts:readvisions.com

BC Baseliner

  • ÅBCDÉFGHÎJKLMNØPQRSTÜVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
0 900
0 900

​A variable font that allows for width adjustment as well as the contraction of diacritic marks and descenders, enabling tighter linespacing.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, consistent counters, flat brush, phototype, retractable extenders, sharp, unusual variation, vertex spread
Design:Šimon Matějka
Publisher:Briefcase Type Foundry
Characters:Latin
Released:2018-11-14
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:briefcasetype.com

Boxout Variable

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
50 200
100 1000

​A boxy sans featuring an extra-tall x-height and slightly flared strokes, with nods to Neil Bold in its heavier weights. Offered with discounted pricing while it’s still a work in progress.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, flared/concave, futuristic/sci-fi, phototype, pinched joints, rectangular, straight-sided, vertex spread
Design:Jake Fleming
Publisher:Jake Fleming
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2018-11-05
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:futurefonts.xyz

Chicken Shop Gothic

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
    АБВГДЕЖЗИЙКЛМНОПРСТУФХЦЧШЩЪЫЬЭЮЯ
    абвгдежзийклмнопрстуфхцчшщъыьэюя
0 100

A sans inspired by squooshed letterforms from vinyl fast food signage and 1960s phototype effects. The ‘Super Size’ axis stretches letters vertically while maintaining consistent glyph widths. Includes a set of food-related dingbats.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, cartoon, gothic, grotesque, multiplexed, phototype, pinched joints, squooshed, straight-sided, unusual variation
Design:Lewis McGuffie
Publisher:Lewis McGuffie
Characters:Latin, Cyrillic, dingbats/emoji
Released:2018-10-16
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:typeverything.com

Cheee Variable

  • Cheee Variable v2.0
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 0123456789
  • Cheee Variable v1.3
    ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ 0123456789
0 1000
0 1000
0 1000

​A blobby all-caps typeface. Previously included a drippy Temperature axis which was removed in more recent versions.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, all caps, cartoon, horizontal stress, multiplexed, ornamented, phototype, plump/convex, psychedelic, rounded, soft corners, superellipse, teardrop terminals, unusual variation
Design:James T. Edmondson
Publisher:OH no Type Co.
Characters:Latin
Released:2018-10-10
Updated:2018-06-22
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:ohnotype.co

Ohno Blazeface Variable

  • AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvWwXxYyZz 0123456789
0 1000

​A contemporary fat-face with variations for use in a wide range of sizes. Offered with discounted pricing while it’s still a work in progress.

Tags: decorative/display, serif, ball terminals, fat-face, optical sizes, phototype, pinched joints, psychedelic, soft corners, swash
Design:James T. Edmondson
Publisher:OH no Type Co.
Characters:Latin
Released:2018-09-13
Updated:2019-01-14
Licensing:Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:futurefonts.xyz

Roslindale Variable Display

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
200 900
75 100

​A variable version of Roslindale’s Display styles, free for anyone who has licensed the Light and Bold weights via DJR’s Font of the Month Club.

Tags: decorative/display, serif, flared/concave, inscriptional, phototype, pinched joints, sharp, wedge serif
Design:David Jonathan Ross
Publisher:DJR, Font of the Month Club
Characters:Latin, Vietnamese
Released:2018-05-31
Updated:2020-09-01
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:djr.com

UT Morph

  • ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
    abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
0 100
0 100

A rounded sans covering a large range of widths. The design is adjusted not with typical weight and width variations, but by adjusting the positive and negative shapes of the letterforms.

Tags: decorative/display, sans, consistent counters, inserat, modular, monoline, phototype, rounded, spurless, straight-sided, unusual variation
Design:Wete, Oscar Cobo
Publisher:Ultratypes
Characters:Latin
Released:2018-05-07
Licensing:Trial, Paid/commercial
Info/fonts:ultratypes.com