tipomap.lat

Catich Color is a color typeface developed as an educational and exploratory tool for understanding Roman capital letters through stroke-based construction. The letterforms are generated from Gen Ramírez’s brushstrokes, executed according to the method established by Edward Catich.

Catich’s research on classical Roman inscriptions revealed that their forms were first drawn with a brush and then carved. By carefully studying enlarged photographs and physical impressions of the inscription on Trajan’s Column, he brought to light the calligraphic decisions present in what had long been considered a purely sculptural work. His findings continue to influence the way designers interpret proportion, rhythm, and contrast in the Roman alphabet.

The family includes solid and grayscale versions, along with stylistic sets that display outlines and proportional guides.

The typeface is closely tied to an educational context, shaped by years of teaching Roman Capitals at Type@Cooper, where historical research meets a hands-on approach. By translating brushstrokes into overlapping shapes of color, this project seeks to make Catich’s method visible and tangible for students, bringing process, movement, and construction to the forefront over idealized results in letterform.