A monthly feature to help you get more out of your fonts and dingbats.
This month:
Less is More, More or Less.
or
You don't have to... just because you can.

Most of the P22 fonts are considered display fonts (as opposed to body text). The impulse when you get a new font (or any new cool thing) is to use it as much as possible. This may be good in some instances, (and don't mistake this "tip of the month" as discouragement against use of P22 fonts), but judicious use and careful selection of type can really make a difference. For Example: Our Victorian Swash font makes a great headline style for many different uses--from weddings to craft fairs-- however if you set an entire paragraph in it, it has the visual equivalent to eating a couple of cans of frosting. Pairing up complimentary fonts and limiting the number of fonts on one page can also go a long way. If you use Arts and Crafts for a headline font, a good subheading or short paragraph font could be Parrish Roman, Kane or Pan Am. (all three of these fonts feature a hand rendered Roman style that was favored by the Arts and Crafts Printers of the early 20th century)

A couple of rules of thumb, if in doubt:

Use only two fonts on any one document - one serif and one san-serif OR one ornate and one simple.

Look at a type layout that you like and think about why you like it--Then emulate (don't steal).

If it feels good--just do it. It's only type and the world will not end if you mis-match a font or two.