Source Serif 4
Designed by Frank Griesshammer at Adobe, Source Serif 4 is a transitional serif loosely based on the work of Pierre Simon Fournier, featuring mixed vertical and diagonal stress, emphatic ball terminals, and moderate contrast for comfortable extended reading. Version 4 introduced optical size axes spanning Caption through Display, allowing the typeface to adapt its proportions and detail for any context from fine print to headlines. It is an excellent choice for professional, editorial, and tech-forward brands seeking a versatile open-source serif that pairs seamlessly with Source Sans.
The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
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About Source Serif 4
- Designer
- Frank Griesshammer
- Foundry
- Adobe
- Released
- 2014
- License
- SIL Open Font License 1.1
- Category
- Modern Serif
- Recommended Weight
- 700
- Variable Axes
- weightoptical-size
- Script Support
- Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Vietnamese
- Available Weights
- 200300400500600700800900
Pairs Well With
Source Sans 3
Source Sans 3 is the natural sans-serif companion from Adobe's Source superfamily, sharing the same proportions and design philosophy for a perfectly integrated typographic system.
Compare side by sideInter
Inter's neutral, screen-optimized character provides a modern sans-serif complement to Source Serif 4's classical structure, well-suited for tech and editorial contexts.
Compare side by sideWork Sans
Work Sans offers a grounded, professional sans-serif partner that matches Source Serif 4's understated authority, creating a clean and versatile pairing for corporate and editorial use.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What historical typeface influenced Source Serif 4's design?
Source Serif 4 is loosely based on the work of Pierre Simon Fournier, an 18th-century French typographer known for his transitional typefaces that bridged old-style and modern serif designs. The font inherits Fournier's mixed vertical and diagonal stress patterns and emphatic ball terminals.
What changed between Source Serif Pro and Source Serif 4?
Source Serif 4 (version 4.0) added an optical size axis spanning from Caption to Display sizes, enabling the typeface to automatically adjust its proportions, spacing, and contrast based on the intended display size. It also expanded language coverage and refined glyph designs.
How does Source Serif 4's optical size axis benefit typography?
The optical size axis adjusts stroke contrast, letter spacing, and x-height proportions for different size contexts. At caption sizes, the font becomes sturdier with more open spacing for readability, while at display sizes, it gains finer contrast and tighter spacing for elegant headlines.