Caslon Thoughts

Caslon is one of the classic typefaces. However there are a great many fonts out there wearing the Caslon name that range from reasonably accurate versions to ones with little actual resemblance to the original. Add to this a number of Caslon-esque typefaces found under other names.

One of my favorites—indeed, my frequent go-to—is Imprint. Many will recognize the name from the inline Imprint Shadow version long bundled with Windows. Ignoring that over-used variant, Imprint is a quite nice choice for text, an early Twentieth Century take on the Caslon concept. I’ve used clones (Bitstream’s Dutch 766, SoftMaker’s Indiana) in books and been satisfied with the result.

Not that there aren’t other decent Caslons available, both commercial and free. Adobe’s is nice, if maybe a bit too regularized (one can say the same of Imprint, perhaps). Some are just a little overly ornate or optimized for display purposes. QTCaslan is not a bad free alternative, though a bit lacking in features. One could certainly create a credible book design with it. I do like Caslon for a more ‘serious’ feel to book text. So do others, which is why it has often appeared in nonfiction and textbooks. I might tend to use something in the Caslon vein for historical fiction.

The only typeface named Caslon you will find free in Google Fonts is Libre Caslon. The display version looks good and I would feel confident using it in titling. The text version, not so much—it seems more suited for on-screen use than print. However, I might suggest Lora as a substitute. The Roman style is decidedly in the Caslon mold and does look good in print. The italic strays further from the original model but stands quite well as a design on its own merits.