Create a palette knife Photoshop action to transform any photo into a palette knife painting. I will explain everything in so much detail that everyone can follow it, even those who have just opened Photoshop for the first time.

What You Will Learn in This Adobe Photoshop Action Tutorial

• How to create a palette knife Photoshop action
• How to create a palette knife Photoshop brush
• How to create a palette knife painting effect
• How to make Photoshop painting effect adjustments
• How to save a Photoshop action

Take It to the Next Level!

Palette Knife Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT)

This painting Photoshop action will transform your photo into a Photoshop painting effect in no time! Simply open your photo, brush over
your subject, and play the action. It’s really that easy! The action will do all the work for you, leaving you fully layered and customizable results that you can further modify.

What You’ll Need

To recreate the design above, you will need the following resources:

• Stock Image

1. How to Get Started

First, open the photo that you want to work with. To open your photo, go to File > Open, choose your photo, and click Open. Now, before we get started, just check a couple of things:

1. Your photo should be in RGB Color mode, 8 Bits/Channel. To check this, go to Image > Mode.
2. For best results, your photo size should be 2000–4000 px wide/high. To check this, go to Image > Image Size.
3. Your photo should be the Background layer. If it is not, go to Layer > New > Background from Layer.

2. How to Start Recording a Photoshop Action

In this section, we are going to start recording the action. Go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions panel, click on the menu icon in the top right-hand corner, choose New Set to create a new set, and name it Palette Knife. Then, click on the same menu icon again, choose New Action to create a new action, and name it Palette Knife.

3. How to Create the Photoshop Painting Effect

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create the palette knife painting effect using an improvised Photoshop palette knife brush. Press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate the Background layer. Then, choose the Art History Brush Tool (Y), pick a soft brush, set the Diameter of the brush to 100 px, and use the following settings:

Step 2

Now we are going to pause the action recording. Go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions
panel, click on the rectangle icon in the bottom left-hand corner to
stop recording the action. Then, in the same panel, click on the menu
icon in the top right-hand corner and choose Insert Stop to add the Stop command. After that, brush over the whole photo.

Step 3

Choose the Art History Brush Tool (Y) again, and pick the Wet Brush 60 pixels brush from the default Natural Brushes 2 Photoshop brushes set. Then, go to Window > Brush and, in the Brush window, set the Size to 250 px, Spacing to 1000%, and Angle Jitter to 100% as shown below:

Step 4

Now brush over the whole photo. Try to brush with quick and long movements.

Step 5

Repeat the previous step several times to create various brush strokes using different Size and Spacing brush settings. Here’s my result:

Step 6

Now go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions panel, click on the circle icon at the bottom to resume recording the action. Then, name this layer Background painting and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate it.

Step 7

Choose the Art History Brush Tool (Y), and pick the Wet Brush 60 pixels brush from the default Natural Brushes 2 Photoshop brushes set. Then, go to Window > Brush and, in the Brush window, set the Size to 30 px, Spacing to 50%, and Angle Jitter to 100% as shown below:

Step 8

Now stop recording the action and insert the Stop command again. Then, brush over the whole photo. Again, try to brush with quick and long movements.

Step 9

Go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All to add a layer mask that hides the whole layer. Then, set the foreground color to #ffffff, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over the area of your subject where you want more details to appear.

Step 10

Now resume recording the action again. Change the Opacity of this layer to 60% and name this layer Subject Painting.

4. How to Reveal More Details

Step 1

In this section, we are going to reveal more details. Select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate it. Then, drag this layer to the top of the layers in the Layers panel.

Step 2

Now press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 20 px.

Step 3

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 27%. Then, name this layer Reveal Details_1.

Step 4

Now select the Background layer, and press Control-J on your keyboard to duplicate it again. Then, drag this layer just below the Reveal_Details_1 layer in the Layers panel. After that, go to Layer > Layer Mask > Hide All to add a layer mask that hides the whole layer.

Step 5

Now stop recording the action and insert the Stop command. Then, set the foreground color to #ffffff, choose the Brush Tool (B), pick a soft brush, and brush over the area where you want more details to appear.

Step 6

Now resume recording the action. Then, change the Opacity of this layer to 67% and name this layer Reveal Details_2.

5. How to Create the Emboss Effect

Step 1

In this section, we are going to create the emboss effect. Select the Reveal_Details_1 layer, and press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot.

Step 2

Now press Control-Shift-U on your keyboard to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Stylize > Emboss and set the Angle to 135°, Height to 2 px, and Amount to 250%.

Step 3

Change the Blending Mode of this layer to Overlay and set the Opacity to 50%. Then, name this layer Emboss.

6. How to Make the Photoshop Painting Effect Final Adjustments

Step 1

In this section, we are going to make Photoshop painting effect final adjustments and save the action for future use. Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Curves to create a new curves adjustment layer and name it Color Look.

Step 2

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail, and in the Properties panel enter the settings below:

Step 3

Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Vibrance to create a new vibrance adjustment layer and name it Overall Vibrance/Saturation.

Step 4

Now Double-click on this layer thumbnail and, in the Properties panel, set the Vibrance to +20 and Saturation to +14.

Step 5

Press Control-Alt-Shift-E on your keyboard to make a screenshot, and then press Control-Shift-U to desaturate this layer. Then, go to Filter > Other > High Pass and set the Radius to 2 px.

Step 6

Now change the Blending Mode of this layer to Hard Light and set the Opacity to 50%. Then, name this layer Overall Sharpening.

After that, go to Window > Actions, and in the Actions
panel, click on the rectangle icon in the bottom left-hand corner to
stop recording the action. Then, in the same panel, click on the menu
icon in the top right-hand corner and choose Save Actions to save the action.

You Made It!

Congratulations, you have
succeeded! You’ve learned how to create palette effect Photoshop action.
Using this Photoshop palette plugin, you can now transform any photo into a palette knife painting effect. Here is our
final result:

Take It to the Next Level!

Palette Knife Photoshop Action (ATN, ABR, PAT)

Transform your photo into a palette knife painting with just a few
clicks, and get an original piece of art! Simply open your photo, brush
over your subject, and play the action. It’s really that easy!
Using the palette knife painting Photoshop action, creating a Photoshop palette from an image has never been this easy and fun.

Like photo effects, Photoshop actions, and Photoshop effect tutorials? Then, you may also like these tutorials for creating various artistic effects for pictures and Photoshop portrait actions:

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Are you a font lover with an appetite for serifs and sans-serifs? Sink your teeth into this amazing collection of 100 stunning cool fonts from Envato Elements!

Get Unlimited Cool Fonts With Envato Elements

The right font can transform your creative designs from drab and dreary to sophisticated and marvellous. And with Envato Elements, you can satisfy your love for fonts with unlimited downloads all for one monthly price!

In this collection packed with 100 assets, we present you with a plethora of amazing resources curated from the font section of Envato Elements.

Use these fonts in your next designs, or enlist the help of a design professional by contacting the good folks at Envato Studio.

Most Popular Fonts Last Month on Envato Elements

Before we jump into that, I’d like to share with you the five most popular fonts we had in June. 

From script and handwritten fonts to sans-serif typefaces, check them out and discover why these awesome fonts were the most downloaded from Envato Elements.

1. Basaro Swash Font (OTF, TTF)

The most popular font in June was Basaro Swash Font, a cool sans-serif font perfect for branding, wedding invitations, logos, or any other project. Included in the pack are the regular, bold, and slant versions of this cool font.

2. Goodwyn – Retro Fonts (OTF, WOFF)

Next up comes this script and handwritten font inspired by the retro and vintage era. Goodwyn is a complete set of fonts that comes with seven different styles. This font is great for retro labels and logos.

3. Handstand Font (OTF, WOFF)

Handstand is a script and handwritten font family, perfect for branding projects. The brush font also includes several ligatures and swashes, initial and terminal letters, and international support for most Western languages.

4. Malficent – Script Font (OTF)

Malficent is another nice script and handwritten font that’s especially good for wedding invitations and graphic design. This script font also includes international glyphs, stylistic sets, and ligatures.

5. Davidas – Condensed Sans Serif (OTF, WOFF)

To close the selection of this month’s most popular fonts, we’ve got this elegant and stunning sans-serif font. Davidas is great for editorial design, branding projects, stationery creations, and more. Have fun with this bold, eye-catching font.

25 Stunning Serif Fonts

Love the classic vintage allure of a serif font? What makes a great serif font are those extra finishing details, usually in the form of a small line attached to the end of a stroke in a letter.

Perfect for a variety of applications, this first list of 25 cool fonts will have you ready to dive into your next design project. Enjoy!

Herbert Lemuel Font

Let’s kick off this list with the Herbert Lemuel font, a vintage-style font that comes with six different versions for that old school look. This serif family comes sectioned in three different sets and is the perfect font for your vintage wedding invitations or designs.

New York Font

If you love that old New York look, then this font is the one for you! The New York font comes packed with eight font files, featuring everything from regular styles to grunge and so much more!

Flexiletto Font

Perfect for the hipster designer, this serif font has a cool vintage vibe with elegant details. It’s suitable for many design applications, so enjoy the classic feel of this retro font.

Hagen Font

Update your font collection with this avant-garde-inspired font. Hagen comes with two different weights and is the perfect addition to your collection as a font for electronic festivals or other fashion-forward posters.

Haste – 3 Handmade Fonts

Included in this font pack are three handmade fonts with a classic vintage vibe. You can access the alternative characters for this font using Adobe Illustrator, making this the perfect font for your next lettering project.

Megeon Font

If you’re looking for something bold with a dash of retro design, then consider this unique serif font. Megeon is a vintage-style font with wonderful grunge qualities and is perfect for logos, advertising, and so much more!

LUNA Font

Suitable for many design applications, Luna is a slab serif typeface that comes available in two different versions. Also included is a stencil version for additional style.

Western Grit Font

Love the look of old westerns? Then you’re sure to love the Western Grit Font. This distressed typeface is a little beat up, but oozes with incredible character and style. Enjoy this 100% handmade design with characters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation included.

Troupe Font

Inspired by retro hand-drawn lettering, the Troupe Font comes with six different weights and four different styles. It’s the perfect font family ready to be used for your next flyer or poster design.

Parlour Font

There’s nothing quite like the style of an old Brooklyn barber shop, and you can enjoy the great urban aesthetic with this Parlour Font. A display typeface inspired by Movember, this versatile font comes complete with the entire alphabet, numbers, and punctuation.

Bartolomew Font

With both a regular and printed style to choose from, the Bartolomew Font is a classy alternative to the fonts you’re most familiar with. Add that extra personal touch to your wedding invites and more with this elegant hand lettering typeface.

Marema Typeface

Inspired by modern vintage posters, this Marema Typeface features stylistic alternatives, contextual alternatives, and ligatures. Show off this font and use it for headlines and more for that beautiful vintage look.

The Salvador Font

Inspired by the lettering artist who created this unique style, The Salvador Font is a trio combination that includes serif, script, and condensed variations. Additional options allow you to choose different colors on every layer of the font without needing special effects.

Esther Handmade Font

The ultimate version of the serif font, this classy design is not constructed out of modules but instead drawn by hand and optimized for the best legibility. It’s ideal for cookbooks, menus, and more, so enjoy the beautiful style of this handmade serif font.

Burford Rustic Font

A rustic alternative to the Burford Font Family, this font includes new style variations and layering options. Enjoy even more from the ornamental package to cover the basic keyboard characters and more.

Lunchbox Slab Regular Font

A part of the Lunchbox Font Family, this hand-drawn typeface features a unique style with numerous customization options available. Included in this package is a custom set of small caps, contextual alternatives, and access to over 1,500 different characters.

Zelda – ArtDeco Font

Enjoy this amazing font full of style and flair that is originally inspired by that wonderful age of Art Deco design. Great for modern and vintage projects alike, this font includes four font styles with regular, bold, and grunge alternatives.

Star Typeface

Shine bright like a star with this unique typeface. This retro font features a vintage Art Deco aesthetic perfect for a variety of design projects. Download this font to get access to its eight incredible font files.

Bureno Font

A display font with incredible style, this Bureno Font features a vintage design with four creative fonts included. Enjoy both the regular and grunge styles for more design alternatives, and ultimately upgrade the look of your print materials.

Lawless Font

Resurrected from a once scrapped file, this Lawless Font has been re-birthed to fulfill the needs of the design masses. Included in this complete package are four different styles, the entire alphabet, and letters and punctuation.

Euphoria Font Family

Introducing the illustrious Euphoria Font Family. This vintage typography set is beautifully crafted and makes for an instant vintage design. Included in this download is access to several alternative styles as well as a few fun extras.

Stiquez Font

Achieve that classic retro look with this elegant typeface. Perfect for logos, advertising, and so much more, this unique font is suitable for a variety of software applications.

Brixton Line Font

Sometimes there’s nothing better than a font with that simplistic elegance. This handcrafted beauty is quite uniquely creative, with over 80 different stylistic alternatives to choose from. Enjoy this super pretty typeface to beautify your next print designs.

806 Typography Font

Inspired by that retro design of old signs, this font works with Illustrator, Photoshop, and even more software applications. Download this file to get complete access to this wonderful vintage font.

Magnifika Font

The age-old appeal of vintage lettering will never go out of style. And with the Magnifika Font, you can create that old Victorian look in a matter of seconds. Enjoy a variety of elements included in this complete font file.

25 Elegant Sans-Serif Fonts

Sans-serif, or fonts without those extra little stroke details, feature clean, modern designs that transform any graphic design into a sophisticated dream. Their sleek style allows for the utmost of versatility in almost any design application.

Enjoy this next collection of fonts, for we already know there will definitely be a handful you’ll want to download!

Transyl – Elegant Display Headline Typeface

Transyl is a sans-serif font with an elegant and minimalist design. The font features a unique all-caps display inspired by medieval design patterns. The typeface is great for headlines, branding, and logos.

CornerOne Typeface

Make this simple, round font a staple in your next font collection. The CornerOne Typeface package includes all the letters, numbers, and glyphs you could ask for in one simple download.

Reiju – Typeface Duo

Divinely unique with its own modern flair, this clean, feminine typeface will make any graphic design truly stand out. Incorporate this type into a variety of design projects, from branding to fashion and even stationery.

Frank Font

Inspired by the classic DIN, Eurostile, and Futura fonts, Frank is the perfect font for that clean, bold look. Included in this file are five different weights, Latin support, and even 300+ glyphs.

The Great Outdoors Font

Take a great big gulp of fresh air with The Great Outdoors. Available in two different styles, clean and rough, this versatile typeface brings the warm nature of the wild to you. It’s a great addition to your growing collection, and you can incorporate this font into almost any art project.

Hitchcut Font

Inspired by the classic Hitchcock movies, Hitchcut is a fun play on words and an even greater play on font styles. Included with this unique sans-serif are contextual alternatives for the full alphabet and all the normal characters you desire.

Graun Font

Need a little grunge in your life? Then feast your eyes on Graun, a unique handmade typeface with bonus elements included. Dress up your album covers or t-shirts with this grungy look.

Cormier Font

The beauty of Art Deco design is that it instantly elevates your work. So next up we have Cormier, an Art Deco themed typeface that comes in three different styles. Incorporate this sleek font into your corporate or business designs for more drama and flair.

Sovereign Typeface

Every great designer needs a slew of clean, modern fonts in their design arsenal. So we present you with Sovereign, a bold and modern typeface that is perfect for branding, advertising, and so much more!

Laguna7 Font

The simple elegance of the Laguna7 Font means that you can incorporate this typeface into a variety of designs. Complete with letters, numbers, and glyphs, this font is created in the OpenType format.

Lunchbox Bold Font

Got lunch? This unique sans-serif design features a font with lots of character and additional elements to boot! Enjoy the four different font styles per letter and the wide range of alternatives for this creative hand-drawn type.

Maxwell Sans Font

Bold and condensed for that sexy solid look, the Maxwell font is the perfect addition to your font collection. Inspired by the retro font aesthetic of the 1950s, Maxwell comes complete with all the necessary characters and elements you desire.

Blocklyn Font Family

A fun play on words, this font is big, bold, and bad ass. Intimidate or simply impress your viewers and inspire a strong masculine design with this bold typeface. Included are four font styles, numbers and symbols, and standard Latin characters.

Fast Track Font

Next up is Fast Track, a speedy display font inspired by vintage racing. This unique type features a design with lots of character, as it shows the letters moving in a fast motion. Included in this font file are example mockups for added inspiration.

Friday’s Font

Thank god it’s Friday, and thankfully you’ll have this font to celebrate. The Friday’s Font is a lazy but clean font style that is ideal for any standard marketing material. Incorporate this font into your business cards, blog photos, or scrapbooks for added style.

Bob Font

A huge typeface, Bob is going to need a little space to fit into your growing collection. Complete with a bold, solid, and angular look, this one lets you show off your love for huge fonts.

Abeja – Font Duo

Perfect for the design professional with minimalist tendencies, Abeja is a uniquely modern typeface that features letters with a slightly pixelized appeal. Enjoy this font alone or incorporate it into your designs to amplify their style.

Ichiji – Typeface Duo

Introducing Ichiji, a modern sans-serif typeface that is sure to impress all your viewers. This strong yet elegant font features a unique design that distorts the average letter. Highlight this eclectic font with a variety of fun design projects.

Fantai Font

Fantai is a simple, hand-painted font. Its classic style makes it very versatile to use for web or print materials. Included in this package are two font formats that are simple and easy to use.

Wilder Font

Get lost in the wild with this natural handwritten font. Wilder is a condensed, sans-serif typeface inspired by an old wooden sign outside a crazy man’s log cabin. Enjoy the simple nature of this font and take advantage of a lifetime of free updates!

Gutenberg – Font Family

A tribute to Johannes Gutenberg, the man who introduced printing to Europe, this sans-serif font presents sketchy edges with irregular imperfections. Its grungy vibe is the result of simulating the look of transferred ink, and we think the creator has succeeded greatly in his inventive design.

Sailors Font

Last but not least in this collection of sans-serif fonts is Sailors, a clean typeface available in two different styles. Perfect for branding, labeling, and more, this classic vintage font is a great way to showcase your love for boats. 

25 Gorgeous Script & Handwritten Fonts

Nothing can beat the charm of freehand writing. Long gone are the days when we were taught script in school, but luckily we still have amazing Script and Handwritten Fonts to turn to.

In this next collection, enjoy an array of styles, from the dainty and pleasant to the abstract and messy.

Flanders Script

Flanders is a script and handwritten font. This bold and modern typeface is perfect for baseball and sport logos. Flanders Script font has OpenType features and supports many languages. 

Ray Signature Font

Next up is Ray Signature, an excellent script and handwritten font. This nice typeface is very versatile, and you can use it for many projects, such as invitations, logos, T-shirts, posters, or any other you’ve got in mind.

Rockys Handbrush Font

Or try Rockys, a script and handwritten typeface that can also be a decorative font. This hand brush font features a bold and natural style that makes it perfect for branding projects, advertisements, product design, stationery, and more.

Art Plot Bold Hand Drawn Font

We’ve got Art Plot, a beautiful script and handwritten font that you can use to give your designs a unique look with a hand-drawn finish.

Cherie Bomb Font

Let’s begin this collection with an explosion. Cherie Bomb is a fun handmade font with a punk rock feeling to it. It’s screaming with personality and heart and allows you to create stunning hand-lettering quickly and easily.

Midnight Rider Font

Written with a dry marker, Midnight Rider is a unique handwritten font. It’s perfect for branding projects and is a great addition to your growing collection of hand-drawn typefaces.

Little Wonder Font

You’ll wonder why you didn’t have this font sooner with Little Wonder. Created with a single watercolor brush and painstakingly digitized for your convenience, this typeface is a mix of chaotically brushed lettering with elegant script.

Briella Font

There’s no hiding the beauty behind this feminine, cursive typeface. Briella is a font based on a unique hand-lettering style. Use this for wedding invites and every design that could use an extra pinch of pretty.

Rainy Days Typeface

Make sure you have an umbrella before going out with this type. Rainy Days is a fun typeface that was made by hand with black Indian ink. Add it to your collection to add splashes of personality to your next design project.

Heiger Font

Carefully crafted with you in mind, Heiger is a gorgeous script font with bonus elements included. Enjoy the additional vector swirls to classy up your next fashion or bridal invitation.

Fjord Brush Font

Made by the hands of the painter Krisjanis Mezulis, Fjord was inspired by the beautiful landscapes of the fjords in Norway. Incorporate this natural, yet unique brushwork into your designs for that messy look.

Mallow Typeface

Recently updated with 15 mockups for your inspiration, Mallow is an imperfect hand-painted typeface with an irregular baseline. Featured in this complete package are letters, numbers, punctuation, and more.

Amorie Modella Font Family

Tall and skinny with the charm of vintage style, the Amorie Modella Font Family comes in various weights and styles. Built to look completely handcrafted, this is an OpenType font that includes a great set of design extras as a bonus.

Drustic Dialy Script Font

Drustic Dialy is the birthchild of its creator Adamfathony. In collaboration with another designer, they created this unique script font with rustic charm and incredible detail. Download this font to gain access to several font styles and more.

Asphalts Typeface

A mixture of heavy and rough brush strokes makes for an incredible typeface. Asphalts is inspired by a rolling downhill passion and is sure to uplift your brand name, identity, or presentation.

The Painter Font

Created with the look of traditional sign and brush lettering in mind, the Painter Font is a font family that includes two styles along with several OpenType features. Perfect for logos, flyers, and more, this unique typeface lets you get the most out of your designs.

Every Summer Font

If you’re looking for a dynamic font to fulfill your spontaneous design projects then look no further. The Every Summer Font is a great way to add personality to your brand with its unique brush look and charming marker imperfections.

Banaue Handwritten Brush Font

A handwritten font for that homemade look, Banaue features 104 characters and all the basic glyphs you need. You’ll definitely want to add this one to your collection to get started on your next project right away!

Himalaya Set Type

We never get tired of that beautiful vintage look. The Himalaya Set Type is a vintage inspired font duo that includes one script and one sans-serif font. Both are hand-drawn with rough edges, and we know you’ll find a great way to incorporate this font into your designs.

Shallom Font

A cute typeface that is both modern and unique, Shallom is a handcrafted font created with a brush and ink. Its calligraphic style will win over any design client, and it even includes a bonus graphic pack with fun fashion elements.

Ornette Font

Casual yet cursive, this sans-serif font is ideal for branding and graphic design work. Created with a love of hand lettering, this font includes all the characters you need, with several different styles to choose from.

Harmonie Script Font

With a combination of copperplate and contemporary typeface design, the Harmonie Script Font is absolutely stunning in its simplicity. Use this font for your wedding invitations, or any design that would work well with calligraphy.

My Dear Script Font

Though the art of writing letters by hand is dying out, the beautiful script style remains with the My Dear Script Font. This classic style has a touch of elegance inspired by the lettering on vintage postcards. Download this font to gain access to this stunning typeface and its features.

Brandine Font

Made with a thin brush and watercolors, the Brandine Font is handcrafted with a beautiful feminine appeal in mind. Use this font for your invitations or celebrate its uniqueness across the board in your next design projects.

Emellie Script Font

A unique calligraphic typeface with feminine touches, Emellie is the perfect font for any designer. Use this font to make your designs instantly pretty or even elevate your home projects.

Maloishe Brush Script Font

Handmade and oozing with character, you’ll definitely want to add Maloishe to your collection. This font stands out from the rest and includes all your basic characters with additional elements for even more style. No need for customization or editing—this font is instantly ready to use.

Cosmodrome Monoline Script Font

Love the cosmos? Explore the wonder of space with this fun Cosmodrome Monoline Script Font. This type features a cool aesthetic that is sure to upgrade all your web and print designs.

Novitha Script Font

Developed by hand using a brush pen, the Novitha Script Font is everything you want in a script font. Scanned in at a very high resolution, it’s designed with a strong personality for any typography lover.

Eiffell Brush Script Font

Busting with a unique, French charm, the Eiffel Brush Script Font is stunning with its decorative capitals and elegant curves. Incorporate this font into your designs for that old-world look.

25 Modern Decorative Fonts

Last but certainly not least, if you fancy the ornate, then dive into this next collection of Decorative Fonts. With both serif and sans-serif fonts included, you can fulfill a special theme for your upcoming designs.

Spacethink Typeface

Space out with this insanely creative font from Envato Elements. Spacethink features five different types of style options that can make it easy to convey that space look you desire. Download this font for your posters or flyers or include it on your next album cover.

Mighty Typeface

Need to showcase your mighty attitude? The Mighty Typeface is perfect for your adventurous message and comes complete with free vector badges.

Baddest Typeface

Introducing the baddest typeface around. This decorative font has a killer design that features strong, bold letters. Enjoy the full package, complete with letters, numbers, punctuation, and symbols.

TOXINE Typeface

Imagine the old medicinal bottles from yesteryear. The Toxine typeface is inspired by their decorative vintage design. This font is suitable for labels, posters, and all your vintage projects, while also including all the necessary elements to complete that entire look.

Alpha Rough Font

Adapted from the philosophical Greek language, Alpha presents itself with a nice handwritten element that will work perfectly in your next designs. Download this font file to gain access to the full list of characters and additional stylistic alternates.

Stooges Races Font

Drawing inspiration from the old retro posters found at races, Stooges is a fun font bursting with character and speed. Enjoy its unique grunge style complete with .OTF font files and an additional vector pack.

Auther Typeface

Looking for something vintage with a modern flair? Consider this retro monoline display typeface, Auther. With its gorgeous curvy lines and rustic texture, there’s no way you can resist adding this awesome font to your collection.

CA Rusty Nail Font

Looking for a rusty nail? A design by Stefan Claudius, this font is carefully hand crafted and comes complete with a full Central European set in two distinct styles. It’s perfect for labeling and more, so download the file to take advantage of that homemade look.

Haext Regular Font

This rustic Neo-Goth font is sure to make you conjure the spirits with its linear uniqueness and abstract style. Make your designs stand out from the crowd and download this font to inspire something different in each project.

Madeline Handsketched Font

Here’s a cute, hand-sketched font created with care. Madeline features a friendly, charismatic design that is super lovable with each letter. The overall feel is meant to be carefree, so be sure to design with a free spirit in mind.

Ginusto Font Family

Made carefully by hand, the Ginusto Font Family is a bold typeface that will inspire you to design with optimal creativity. What you’ll get in this package is four family fonts, an ornamental pack, and even access to a comprehensive video tutorial for additional help.

Baker Street Rough Font

Inspired by the creator’s trip to London, the Baker Street Rough Font encompasses all the great elements of beautiful, vintage typography. This font family delivers a multitude of OpenType features and includes additional ornament sets to work specifically with the Baker Street style.

La Forest Typeface

If you’re looking for a dramatic font perfect for that Count Dracula look, consider the La Forest typeface to inspire some gorgeous Gothic style. Add this unique font to your designs and transform the theme easily with these four creative fonts.

Mars Attack Typeface

We are not alone, and you won’t be either once you feast your eyes on this Mars Attack. This eclectic typeface features a bold, spacey design that will easily convey the message you desire for design that is out of this world.

Catalina Clemente Font

After visiting a bakery in Newport Beach, California, the creator of the Catalina Clemente Font was inspired to create a typeface with all the organic design and stunning typography of that very special place. Download this file to gain access to four font families and more, including additional graphic ornaments for even more style.

Morning Glory

Take a trip back to the Victorian age with this beautiful decorative font designed by Inumocca Type. It comes with just the right amount of creative features, while still being clear and easy to read. Try out this eye-catching font for your next project!

Atebellum Font Family

This vintage inspired typeface comes in two distinct styles, allowing you more room for versatility in your designs. Download this special package to use for awesome displays, labeling, and more.

Casual Brush Font

Or you could always just keep things casual. The Casual Brush Font is a lovely handwritten typeface created with fluid brush strokes that are sure to inspire serenity. Download this file to gain access to 600+ ligature pairs and two stylistic alternatives.

Sweetiest Font

The sweetest font around, this adorable typeface comes complete with bubbly thick curves and a lovable romantic style. Combine this font with your favorite hand-brushed look for a design that looks very natural and sweet.

The Thron Typeface

An elegant font family that comes in three different font formats, The Thron Typeface is a static font, which means that it’ll look great on almost anything. Inspire elegance in your designs with this unique look.

River Side Font

If you’re looking for even more handwritten fonts to add to your design arsenal, then consider the River Side Font for your next designs. Great for inspirational posters and fierce brand identities, you’re sure to impress with this rustic hand-painted font.

The Rupture Font

The Rupture Font features an original, rustic look that is handmade with you in mind. Elevate your designs with this creative typeface that is ideal for any poster or graphic design.

Story Brush Font

Tell me a story! The Story Brush Font is a surefire way to add a creative story element into your designs. Equipped with OpenType features and over 240 glyphs, this font can make a huge impact for your next Halloween or horror-themed project.

Phillnesia Typeface

Featuring an incredibly gorgeous Victorian design, the Phillnesia Typeface is a great vintage font that will instantly age your print materials for that fun retro look. Download this creative design and incorporate it in your favorite labels, posters, and so much more.

Sea Horse Typeface

Last but not least, let’s dive into this elegant water theme with this lovely Sea Horse Typeface. Inspired by old Victorian typography and vintage sign printing, this file includes the original .OTF format and a poster sample for inspiration.

Conclusion

This list is jam-packed with amazing resources for the avid collector of serif and sans-serif fonts. If you need a more hands-on approach to your work, however, consider enlisting the help of a design professional from Envato Studio for custom lettering, branding, and so much more.

And with hundreds of fonts available at your fingertips, chances are we’ve missed a few to add to your personal collection. Be sure to browse Envato Elements for more resources, and let us know your favorites in the comments below!

If you still want more fonts, you can find dozens more fantastic examples in the following article:

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Learn the essential terms in the world of typography. In this article, we’ll clarify a few misused terms, touch on figures and symbols, and explain some indispensable typesetting terminology.

In the world of typography and design, there are innumerable terms that are necessary for beginner designers to know. A few of these terms are widely confused and misused. In this Ultimate Guide to Basic Typography, I’ve gathered some essential terms you need to know. I’ll go through some of the basic misunderstood terms, like the difference between typeface and font. I’ll also touch on the different font file types, explain the different type of figures and symbols, and explain some essential typesetting details. 

Follow along with us over on our Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

Typeface vs. Font

One of the most common mistakes when talking about type is mixing up the terms “typeface” and “font”. The distinction between these terms can be slightly confusing, so let’s talk about their different meanings. 

A typeface is a group of characters that share a common DNA. For example, Alegreya Sans is a different typeface from Rockwell Std. 

A font is a particular set of glyphs within a typeface. For instance, 12 pt Franklin Gothic URW Light is a different font from 14 pt Franklin Gothic URW Light. You’d use the same definition if you are talking about different weights—12 pt Franklin Gothic URW Light is different from 18 pt Franklin Gothic URW Book.

For many centuries, text was set individually by hand, and each letter would be a small piece of cast metal. Each letter was stored in a wooden type drawer that was organized in small compartments. A specific type drawer would have a full alphabet and other glyphs at the same size. Therefore, the term “font” had a very specific meaning, distinct from the word “typeface.”

Nowadays, these two words are often used interchangeably, but it’s always good to know the distinctions between the two. A great analogy is the one of albums and songs. Typefaces are the different albums, and fonts are the songs in the album.

Font Styles

When type was first invented, all fonts were designed as roman. It wasn’t until the early 16th century that italic fonts were introduced. Originating in Italy, italics were a separate group in the type classification, similar to serifs and sans serifs. By the early 18th century, foundries started pairing roman and italic designs. Italics are used to emphasize important points in a text block. 

• Italics or true italics are angled typefaces that are strongly influenced by calligraphy. Their slanted anatomy mimics the organic movement of cursive letters. Italics that are specifically designed for their matching roman fonts are similar in shape, with the exception of a few characters. Lowercase characters like the a, f and g tend to change in form considerably when designed as italics. 
• Oblique fonts are less calligraphic in style compared to italics. None of the glyphs in oblique fonts go through a cursive transformation. Some glyphs can be slightly slanted, while others go through rigorous corrections to maintain the same style as their roman counterparts. When included in a block of text, oblique fonts don’t contrast enough with their roman counterparts. 

Font Weights

Morris Fuller Benton was a proponent of the creation of large type families between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The idea was that the characters within the family would share a common DNA, with slight distinctions. 

The most common font weights you can find in a typeface are Regular and Bold. Some typefaces like Neue Haas Unica include extensive weights. This typeface includes multiple weights like ultra light, thin, light, regular, medium, bold, heavy, black, and extra black. The advantage of having such a wide range of weights in a single font is the ability to create a hierarchy in a page layout.

Font File Types

Let’s be real: when you download and install a font, you are left wondering if you’ve used the right file. We’ve all been there and questioned what the real difference is between the files. So let’s talk font file types:

• PostScript (.pfb, .pfm, .lwfn, .ffil) files were developed by Adobe in the mid 1980s. A computer would need two separate files: one for on-screen display and a second one for printing. The PostScript file is not cross-platform—different files were needed for Mac and Windows computers. This became an issue when handling files on different operating systems. The file could hold a maximum of 220 glyphs.
• TrueType Font (.ttf) files were developed by both Apple and Microsoft in the early 1990s. This type of file renders the outlines of each character through a hinting process to achieve a high level of legibility on low-res devices. Incorporating hinting into the font became time-consuming, and not all fonts take advantage of the technology. A single file contains on-screen and printing data and up to 65,000 glyphs.
• OpenType Font (.otf) files were developed by Adobe and Microsoft in the late 1990s. These fonts support Unicode, meaning that one OpenType file can contain more than 65,000 glyphs. Previously, typefaces with multiple languages would have had a separate file—OpenType fonts can house them all in a single file, including swashes, numeral styles, pictograms, and more. This type of file is cross-platform: the same file can be used for Mac and Windows computers.

Figures, Signs, and Symbols

Old Style, Lining, Proportional, and Tabular Figures

You might have noticed that some numbers are differently set from typeface to typeface. Each number style has a specific use that can make designing easier. Lining and old style figures have different baseline alignments. Tabular and proportional figures have different widths, and if they are used on multiple lines, the numbers might not align. Let’s take a look at the different figure styles and when should you use them:

• Lining Figures are usually the default figures you’d find in a typeface. The numbers sit on the same baseline as the rest of the characters. These figures look great next to capital letters because the height tends to be similar if not the same.
• Old Style Figures or non-lining are numbers that extend above and below the baseline—similar to ascenders and descenders in letters. This style looks great if you are using it in a paragraph of text. Visually, the varying height blends in nicely with uppercase and lowercase letters. 

• Tabular Figures have a set width, similar to monospaced fonts. This figure style is perfect if you are planning on typesetting tables, charts, or numbered lists as they’ll align vertically without the need to kern. Avoid using this style for blocks of text as the even width will be seen as poorly kerned figures.
• Proportional Figures are the opposite of tabular—these numbers have different widths depending on their shape. Therefore, the numbers don’t align vertically. Use this style of figures in body text as they blend in organically for readers.

Superscript and Subscript

Superscript and subscript figures are smaller versions of full-size numerals. They’re commonly used in footnotes and endnotes, cents in pricing, diagonal fractions, and chemical notations. These figures aren’t always included in a typeface, but software like InDesign has the option to create a fake figure. Properly designed figures have been drawn to have a harmonious visual relation in terms of weight and proportions.

• Superscripts or superior figures can be cap-aligned (mainly used for standard numerators) or go slightly above (for mathematical formulas). Some typefaces will include both of these or just one.
• Subscripts or inferior figures can be baseline-aligned (used for denominators) or sit below the baseline (for chemical formulas).

Small Caps

Small caps are uppercase letterforms that are shorter than regular capital letters. They are often around the same height as lowercase letters or slightly taller, so they look visually harmonious. If you are looking to highlight text instead of using bold or italics, you can use small caps.

Unfortunately, many small caps nowadays are computer generated, so pay close attention when using small caps. Well-designed small caps have been drawn specifically to complement the weight and proportion of the letter. Avoid using the Small Caps button in InDesign as it will only be a proportionally reduced form of a capital letter. These tend to look too light, poorly spaced, and narrow.

Ligatures: Standard and Discretionary

You might have come across these stylish characters before and not noticed it. The word “ligatures” comes from the Latin ligare, meaning to tie. Ligatures tie two or more letters into a single character to help with kerning or for decorative purposes. Let’s look at the details:

• Standard ligatures help with the kerning when some characters take over the horizontal space of the next. For instance, the letter f tends to take over the space because of its hanging terminal. The overlap increases to both sides with italic fonts. Typical English ligatures include letter combinations such as fi, fl, ffi, and ffl. Depending on the language, ligatures can be different. 
• Discretionary or decorative ligatures don’t necessarily help with the kerning but are stylistic features of a typeface. This style of ligature has a calligraphic appearance and can add personality to characters. Letter combinations like ct, sp, and st have a specific connecting style between the characters.

Hyphens and Dashes

Hyphens and dashes are punctuation marks that are often misunderstood and misused. While they look very similar, the distinct length serves specific functions. These three characters are horizontal strokes that can have specific characteristics to match a typeface.

• The hyphen is a short mark used to hyphenate a word or at the end of a line to break a word. Hyphens are commonly used to separate digits in phone numbers or to join compound words, such as “long-term”. 
• The en dash is longer than a hyphen, and the width usually matches the one of the capital N. It is used to indicate a duration of time, often replacing the prepositions “to” or “through”. 
• The em dash is the longest dash, and the length usually matches the one of a capital M. It is often used in place of commas, parentheses, or colons. Em dashes are also used to indicate a strong break in the structure of a sentence or a change of thought or emphasis. Typewriters don’t include the em dash—only hyphens—so some writers have used two hyphens instead of an em dash. Note that this is typographically incorrect. 

Ampersand

One of the fanciest characters in a typeface is the ampersand. This symbol is a stylized depiction of “et”, which is Latin for “and”. Designers often use the opportunity to design ampersands as a way to show off as it can be a symbol that contains lots of character and personality. You can substitute the word “and” for an ampersand in certain instances: headlines, titles and branding or for connecting words in a list. Try to use it sparingly or not at all in copy text as it can appear larger next to normal copy. 

Legal Symbols (™ ® ©)

Trademark, register, and copyright are important symbols to use when you are designing a brand identity. They help protect creative work against plagiarism. Visually, these symbols are often used at a small size to look clean but modest as they accompany a logo.

Designers prefer to use serif symbols with serif fonts and sans symbols with sans logos. It is acceptable to use a sans symbol with a serif logo as it can read better at a smaller point size.

If you are using the ™ or ® symbol in text size, set it to less than half of the x-height of the text. As the text gets larger, the symbols should decrease in size for a clean look. For the © symbol, match it to the x-height or cap height of the text. 

Detailed Typography

Legibility

Legibility refers to the anatomy of a typeface and the common DNA the characters share. It is related to a reader’s ability to differentiate one letter from the next. There are multiple elements that contribute to a legible typeface, such as x-height, character width, weight, counters, serifs, stroke contrast, etc. 

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Readability

Readability refers to how clear and easy it is to read words in a block of text. Many designers spend years mastering the art of typesetting as it helps shape the page in a cohesive and clear manner. Typesetting is very detail oriented, and there should be a mix of legibility and readability considerations. Depending on the DNA of a typeface, designers can make decisions for its readability on a page. Font size, line length, and leading, just to name a few, are some of the elements that need to be considered to make text legible.

Size

12 pt font has become the norm when creating a document. Unfortunately, it is not the most comfortable size to read for long forms of text. Many books, periodicals and magazines are printed at less than 12 pt. This is not only for aesthetic purposes—it can also get costly to print at that size. 

While every typeface looks different at 12 pt, try printing it out and reading it. Size it down to 10 pt—it might not seem much, but copy text can look elegant at this size. Don’t be afraid to go up or down by 0.25 pt or 0.5 pt as it can make a big difference. It’s all in the details. Depending on what the end product is, you might need to adjust. For instance, business cards are usually set at 7 or 8 pt. 

Line Length

Line length is the width of a column where type is set, and it’s usually measured by the number of characters on a single line. 

Depending on the size of the copy text, a readable line length can vary. For copy text, a line length of between 45 and 75 characters is optimal. As you increase the point size of a font, you’ll need to increase the line length. Narrower lines are suitable for short copy as the reader’s eyes won’t need to travel far to the beginning of the next line. For long forms of text, go for wider columns, so that readers won’t need to jump to the following line as often.

Leading

Leading, also called line spacing, is the vertical space between each line of text and is measured from baseline to baseline. 

Depending on the typeface you are using, you might need more or less leading. Darker typefaces need more leading because they tend to make a page look darker and require more breathing room. As a rule of thumb, add 2 pt to the final size of the copy text. Keep an eye on ascenders and descenders as they can often touch between the lines.

Tracking

Also known as letter spacing, tracking is the act of adding horizontal space between characters. Lowercase characters require some tracking in long forms of text to fix rags, orphans, and widows. Strings of capital letters need tracking to add some air between the characters. There isn’t a rule as to how much tracking you should add, but try to find a good balance.

Kerning

Whereas tracking is the space between characters in a word, kerning is the space between a combination of two characters. 

Most typefaces are integrated with kerned pairs that are created carefully by a designer. There are many different combinations, so some are not kerned by default. There’s no mathematical rule for kerning—your eyes are your best tool. The goal of kerning is to achieve equal distance between the pair so that the full word looks evenly spaced. Characters with diagonal strokes are difficult to kern because of the space they create.

Typographic Alignment

Typographic alignment refers to the text placement on a page, and it is one of the first decisions you’ll make at the beginning of a project. Each alignment style has different applications and its own challenges to make the text readable. 

The four main alignment styles are:

• Flush Left: If you are typesetting large amounts of text, flush left is a great option for languages that are read from left to right. Try using hyphenation to achieve a pleasantly uneven rag on the right side (more on rags in the next section).
• Center Align: Use center align for shorter amounts of text, like headlines, formal invitations, and introductory copy. Avoid using this style for long copy as it can become difficult to read due to the uneven edges.
• Flush Right: Flush right is common in languages that read right to left, like Hebrew and Persian. Use this style for a few lines at a time and when necessary (pull quotes, sidebars, and notes). 
• Justified: Justified text is aligned to both sides simultaneously. This style is most common in books and newspapers, mainly to save space and fit as many characters as possible on one line. Use hyphenation with this style to avoid wide gaps between words. 

Rags and Rivers

The uneven edge on the opposite side of a flush left (ragged right), flush right (ragged left) or center aligned text is called “rag”. When setting type, pay attention to the ragged edge shapes as they sometimes can be distracting if not set properly. You can correct rags manually by breaking lines where necessary or hyphenating words. A good rag goes in and out in small increments. 

Rivers are big gaps between words, usually caused by justified text. Use a combination of tracking and hyphenation where needed to eliminate rivers. A slightly tighter tracking will allow you to fit more characters on a line, while the hyphenation option will break words where necessary.

Orphans and Widows

Orphans are isolated lines created when a paragraph begins on the last line of a column or page. A widow is the last line of a paragraph that appears at the beginning of the next column or page.

Both of these issues cause excessive white space around the lines of text. To eliminate this problem, edit copy where necessary. If editing is not an option, try typesetting previous paragraphs meticulously. Typography is all about the details, and it’s important to create a good reading experience within a clean and organized layout.

That’s It!

In this article, we’ve shown you the most essential typographic terms. We clarified a few regularly misused words, touched on figures and symbols, and explained some indispensable typesetting terms. 

It’s important to learn the do’s and don’ts of typography. You’ll understand why some typefaces work at a small point size or why text is readable in a wide column. While this guide contains rules, I think rules were made to be broken, so experiment outside the box. Once you’ve mastered, practiced and applied the basics, I encourage you to get crazy and explore new horizons!

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