Bodoni

Bodoni (/bəˈdoʊni/, Italian: [boˈdoːni]) is the name given to the serif typefaces first designed by Giambattista Bodoni (1740–1813) in the late eighteenth century and frequently revived since. Bodoni typefaces are classified as Didone or modern. Bodoni followed the ideas of John Baskerville, as found in the printing type Baskerville, but he took them to a more extreme conclusion. Bodoni had a long career, his designs changed, and varied ending with a variety of typeface with a slightly condensed underlying structure using flat, unbracketed serifs and extreme contrast between thick and thin strokes, and an overall geometric construction.

When first released, Bodoni and other didone fonts were called classical designs because of their rational structure. However, these fonts were not updated versions of Roman or Renaissance letter styles, but new designs. They came to be called 'modern' serif fonts; since the mid-20th century, they are also known as Didone designs.

Some digital versions of Bodoni are said to be hard to read due to "dazzle" caused by the alternating thick and thin strokes, particularly as the strokes are very thin at small point sizes. This is very common with optical sizes of fonts intended for use at display sizes, that are printed at text size. At which point the hairline strokes can recede to being hard to see. Versions of Bodoni that are intended to be used at text size are "Bodoni Old Face", optimized for 9 points; ITC Bodoni 12 (for 12 points); and ITC Bodoni 6 (for 6 points).

In the English-speaking world, "modern" serif designs like Bodoni are most commonly seen in headings and display uses and in upmarket magazine printing. Which is often done on high-gloss paper that retains and sets off the crisp detail of the fine strokes. In Europe, they are more often used in body text.