Circus Tuscan

Its x-height is 75% of the cap height, near the 74.5% typical of decorative fonts in the library, taller than 21 of the 35 other decorative fonts. Ascenders on b, d, h, k and l line up with the capitals (100% of their height), and descenders on g, j, p, q and y drop 28.8% of the cap height below the baseline, deeper than 28 of the 35 other decorative fonts. It sets wide: an average lowercase letter, spacing included, is 84.3% as wide as the capitals are tall (an average capital, 101%), 10.6% more than the median for decorative fonts, so the same words take a longer line. The o is close to a circle, 1.07 times as wide as it is tall, and W is the widest capital, at 1.22 times the width of H. Round letters overshoot: O rises 3% of the cap height above H and dips 1.4% below the baseline.

The letters stand upright, with no measurable slant. Vertical stems measure 15.7% of the cap height, heavier than 11 of the 22 other decorative fonts. Ink covers 41.2% of each lowercase letter's box (its advance width by the cap height), darker than 29 of the 35 other decorative fonts. Strokes keep one thickness in every direction: the sides of o and O measure the same as their tops and bottoms. Pointed spurs cross the middle of the straight strokes, in the Tuscan style.

Its 148 characters include 105 Latin letters, plus 43 figures, punctuation marks and symbols; 53 of the Latin letters are accented or special forms beyond A to Z. The word space measures 36.8% of the cap height, and the blank space either side of a lowercase letter takes up 9.2% of its width. Spacing is adjusted with 262 kerning pairs, more than 27 of the 35 other decorative fonts. The tightest of them is AY, which closes up by 32.3% of the cap height. The figures have different widths, so columns of numbers set in Circus Tuscan will not line up exactly.

Circus Tuscan is drawn on the same letter structure as 9 other fonts in the library. Compared with Circus Tuscan, Carbon Typewriter keeps the letters plain, without the Tuscan effect, puts down 50% less ink and has a 70% x-height. Harbor Slab keeps the letters plain, without the Tuscan effect, sets 8% narrower and puts down 22% less ink. Banshee Slab adds paint drips, sets 16% narrower and puts down 20% less ink.