Stylistic sets are groups of alternates designed to be activated together. Numbered ss01 to ss20 in the OpenType format, they change several glyphs at once in a consistent way, giving an entire font a different look.
Where to see it
Stylistic sets can be found in the OpenType menu of layout software and, on the web, through the CSS font-feature-settings property. Inter, for example, offers one that clearly distinguishes the “l”, the “I” and the “1”, and many brands use them to give a commercial font an identity of their own.
Why this detail matters
Stylistic sets give a single font several faces, in one setting:
- They change several letters at once, consistently, whereas alternates are chosen one by one;
- They meet specific needs, such as better legibility of similar-looking figures and letters in an interface or a technical document;
- For a brand, activating a stylistic set is a simple way to customize a commercial font without redrawing it.
Related term
Alternates are alternative designs offered for a character; stylistic sets group them so they can be activated together.