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Tiempos Font

Klim's contemporary editorial serif for text and headlines

Kris Sowersby · Transitional serif · 2010 · × Paid license, free test fonts

Download Free Alternative

Source Serif 4 · closest free match to Tiempos

Tiempos font poster: elegant serif Tiempos headline on a newspaper-inspired layoutTiempos style serif type on an open magazine spread and a hardcover bookTiempos style character set: uppercase and lowercase alphabet, numbers and symbols

Illustrations of the Tiempos style made for DaFontFonts. Letterforms are approximate; check the official specimen before you buy.

Download Tiempos

License:
Paid license, free test fonts
Font Type:
Paid
Download:
Free alternative: Source Serif 4 (OFL-1.1)
Format:
TTF
Total Files:
16 styles + licence
Download Free Alternative

Tiempos itself is not free to download. This button gives you Source Serif 4, the closest free match, licensed for commercial use. Buy Tiempos from Klim

About Tiempos

Tiempos was designed by Kris Sowersby at Klim Type Foundry in New Zealand and released in 2010, with engineering by Noe Blanco. Klim describes Tiempos Text as taking the functionality of Plantin and Times and gently updating it for contemporary use. Tiempos Headline followed for large sizes, and Tiempos Fine arrived in 2018 for very large, delicate display settings.

The text cut is sturdy and economical, with a generous x-height, firm serifs and compact proportions that keep long articles readable on paper and screens. The headline and fine cuts sharpen the contrast and tighten the spacing, so the family can run a whole publication from captions to cover lines. That versatility made Tiempos a favourite of newsrooms, magazines and product sites that want a serious, editorial voice.

Where Tiempos works best

  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Long-form articles and blogs
  • Book typography
  • Editorial product and brand sites

Free alternatives to Tiempos

Open-licence fonts with a comparable feel, every one verified free for commercial use and downloadable from DaFontFonts.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Source Serif 4 Serif · 16 styles · variable ✓ OFL

Source Serif 4 is the closest free match for Tiempos Text: a sturdy transitional serif with optical sizes, built for long reading on screen and paper.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Newsreader Serif · 14 styles · variable ✓ OFL

Newsreader was drawn specifically for news reading, with display and text optical sizes that echo the Tiempos Text and Headline split.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Literata Serif · 16 styles · variable ✓ OFL

Literata is a contemporary book serif with a large weight range and italics, a dependable free substitute for long-form Tiempos settings.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Spectral Serif · 14 styles ✓ OFL

Spectral is a refined screen-first serif with crisp details, a good match for the lighter, more elegant Tiempos Headline and Fine cuts.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
Gelasio Serif · 8 styles · variable ✓ OFL

Gelasio is metric-compatible with Georgia and has a solid, readable texture, useful when you want a Tiempos-like serif that drops into existing layouts.

Tiempos is a trademark of its owner. DaFontFonts does not host or distribute the Tiempos font files; download and licence links go to the official source.

Questions

Is Tiempos font free?

No. Tiempos is a paid family from Klim Type Foundry. Klim offers free test fonts for trying it in layouts, but those cannot be used in published or commercial work.

What is the difference between Tiempos Text and Tiempos Headline?

Tiempos Text is built for body copy, with sturdy serifs and roomy spacing. Tiempos Headline is drawn for large sizes, with sharper contrast and tighter spacing. Tiempos Fine goes further for very large display use.

What is a free alternative to Tiempos?

Source Serif 4 and Newsreader are the closest free alternatives. Both have text and display optical sizes and are licensed for commercial use.

Who designed Tiempos?

Tiempos was designed by Kris Sowersby, founder of Klim Type Foundry in Wellington, New Zealand, with engineering by Noe Blanco.

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