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Best New Fonts of 2004
And now we roll out the red carpet for the best new fonts of 2004. We selected the best fonts of 2004 based on the top 10 style categories (such as “picture,” “comic,” or “vintage script” font), then on the top selling font within each style category. We're sure you'll notice some of your favorites here, plus a few newcomers that just may surprise you.

#10: Kartoon Kutz NF (Best Picture Font)

Designer Nick Curtis brings you Kartoon Kutz. These charming little cartoon figures, known in the trade as “midgets,” added a little extra oomph to everything from business cards to matchbook covers from the 1920s to the 1950s. Each font contains 52 different cuts, each carefully hand drawn from authentic historical sources.

#9: Andulka (Best Text Font)

“A universal typeface for books, magazines, and newspapers must be... quiet, strong... but original and peaceful at the same time. Andulka (Czech for budgerigar) sings its heart out, yet is an everyday quiet companion.” — Designer Frantisek Storm

#8: Lint McCree BB (Best Comic Font)

Lint McCree was created for designer Nate Piekos' comic book series of the same name. Nate Piekos founded Blambot Comics Fonts in 1999. Since then Blambot has become a staple in the comic creation industry, appearing in books published by Marvel, Dark Horse, Oni, Image and independent comics world-wide.

#7: Variable (Best Sans Serif Font)

Variable is a sans-serif monoline family from Matthew Aaron Desmond's foundry MADType. The UltraThin weight is perfect at large sizes where you need a hairline effect. The Black weight is reminiscent of wooden router lettering.

#6: Mutaints (Best Letterbat Font)

Better be careful... the Mutaints are loose... Mutaints bite... watch your fingers! Jakob Fischer (a.k.a. PizzaDude) has created a fun letterbat design and a complementary dingbat font with 52 more or less weird figures! Jakob lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he spends most of his spare time messing around with fonts and drawings.

#5: Lanier (Best Vintage Script Font)

Lanier is based on the handwriting of American poet and novelist Sidney Lanier, as seen in an 1875 letter written by him. The font features numerous special ligatures and letter combinations to better mimic the feel of real handwriting.

#4: Silentina (Best Poster Font)

“In the early 1900s, star struck movie goers would flock to the local movie houses.... When the actors and actresses... had more to say, intertitles conveyed their message to the spellbound viewers. Now, you can convey your message with the same glamour and panache with two new fonts.” — Designer Ray Larabie

#3: Shimmer (Best Handwriting Script Font)

Shimmer looks just like real cursive handwriting, because that's exactly what it is! The letters were meticulously hand traced from actual samples of handlettering, and great care was taken to keep the strokes natural and fluid.

#2: Great Circus (Best Grunge Script Font)

The popular grunge font Great Circus comes in five styles from Clean to Dirty. Eduardo Recife creates his typefaces by hand, and employs the computer to enhance the personal touch, not to obscure it. Evidence of decay in his work reflects his recognition of the decadence of the life around him, notably urban and at times distinctly Brazilian.

#1: Persimmon (Best Brush Script Font)

Designed by Ronna Penner, Persimmon — our number one font of 2004 — is elegant and semi-formal with some very unique letter shapes. Calligraphic in nature, Persimmon can be used where you want a distinctive lettering style.

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