Cormorant for Text?

Cormorant is a popular open license typeface that has been available for nearly a decade now. It can be described as Garamond-like but is based on no historic model. The shapes may tend more toward Jannon’s than Garamond’s. That is of little concern of itself, but some might feel its look is a bit too showy for everyday use.

The original Coromorant, released in a number of useful styles and weights, was described as a display font. That is, it is best used at larger sizes, like twenty points or more. To be sure, it could be used smaller but its look at typical text sizes of ten to twelve points might prove disappointing. That has not prevented it from being utilized in just that role.

So, Cormorant Garamond came along with a bit of redrawing to work better at smaller sizes. Whether it is completely successful in this would have to be decided by the end users, but it definitely is more successful as a text typeface than the original version. One could use both in one print publication, Cormorant for titling, Cormorant Garamond for body text. I’ve yet to try it out myself, admittedly; if the right sort of project came along, I certainly would, but I’m not sure if it has quite the readability I would want for a novel.

We mustn’t forget those other versions available. The Upright is, in essence, an upright italic. It, I have used in small projects. The Infant version could, I suppose, be dropped into a more sophisticated children’s book. I don’t know what the Unicase is good for. Maybe not for anything I’ll ever design!

Then there is a matching sans, available: Ysabeau, also in a variety of weights and styles, and likewise free and open license. I have found it quite a bit more useful than Cormorant, as a stand-alone typeface, but the two will match up well too in print. For that matter, Ysabeau could work as a titling font with a number of old style serifs, or modern neo-humanist ones, for that matter.

I would discourage no one from trying out and using Cormorant, in any of its forms. Simply be aware there are other useful open license typefaces out there, ones that don’t offer as much ‘wow’ on first look, that might be as well or better suited to your needs.