Transitional _ Baskerville, Times New Roman and Georgia typefaces Left to right: Baskerville, Times New Roman and Georgia typefaces This style came about in the Enlightenment period (18th century). It takes Old Style a step further, eliminating all remaining traces of handwritten calligraphy in favor of a fully mechanical look (the Enlightenment was all about ditching tradition and celebrating invention). Thin strokes get thinner and thick strokes get thicker; the amount of serif tails increases; the vertical and horizontal axes rule — diagonal strokes and leaning attitudes disappear (except in italics, of course). For a 300 year old style, we still use transitional fonts all the time today. Also known as: Neoclassical Examples: Baskerville, Times New Roman, Georgia 5.
Modern _ Bodoni, Didot and Walbaum typefaces Left to right: Bodoni, Didot and Walbaum typefaces The first Modern font, by Italian printer Giambattista Bodoni, appeared in 1784 but the style really became in vogue (and in Vogue) in the sms marketing service 20th century. The style takes the stylistic progression of the Old Style and Transitional typefaces to its ultimate conclusion: super fat thick strokes contrast with hairline thin strokes with abrupt, right angle serifs. Nowadays, the style exudes luxury and high fashion. Also known as: Didone Examples: Bodoni, Didot, Walbaum 6. Slab _ Clarendon, Rockwell and Playbill typefaces Left to right: Clarendon, Rockwell and , type was almost always intended for book reading.