Pixel fonts, or bitmap fonts, are typefaces drawn directly on a pixel grid, with each letter made of small squares. Originally created for low-resolution screens, they are now used for their digital and retro aesthetic.
Where to see it
Pixel fonts can be seen on the first personal computers, such as the 1984 Macintosh and its Chicago font designed by Susan Kare, and in video games of the 1980s and 1990s. They regularly return in contemporary graphic design, fashion and neo-retro interface design.
Why this detail matters
Pixel fonts have a particular history and use:
- They were born of a technical constraint, that of the first low-resolution screens;
- Their aesthetic immediately evokes early computing and video games;
- They display best at sizes that are multiples of their original grid, or they lose their sharpness.
Related term
Hinting is the technique that adapts the design of vector fonts to the pixel grid of the screen.