Free Font Friday: Syne Tactile

by Taylor Slattery | February 12, 2021

Syne Tactile is a handwritten font created by Bonjour Monde and Lucas Descroix. It bears little resemblance to most handwritten typefaces and for good reason. Part of a larger type family, Syne tactile is one of two experimental typefaces meant to complement their sans serif basis, Syne Regular. Using Syne Regular as a basis to build upon, Syne Tactile was created by using the trackpad of a laptop as a means of digital calligraphy.

Taking inspiration from calligraphic styles of the Renaissance period, Syne Tactile is a unique blend of traditional and digital typeface practices, at once feeling both futuristic and ancient. True to its roots, it features some slight flourishes that add a great deal of visual interest. It has an almost runic quality to it, making it feel like an alien language at a glance. In terms of use, Syne Tactile is definitely not going to be something you’ll reach for if you’re looking for legibility, but it more than makes up for that in character.

It would be a great choice for those tertiary elements of a design that are really only read by those who are truly interested. It’s strange, decorative letterforms open the door to a wide range of experimentation. Syne Tactile is available in a single weight and you can find it for free here.