Zhanshi Too: A Pretty Serif Font for Soft Brand Identity Projects
I still remember the moment I opened a blank Figma file for what was supposed to be a simple rebrand. The client wanted something delicate, feminine, and undeniably memorable for their new line of botanical skincare products. We had moved past the initial mood boards, but the logo felt flat. It lacked that subtle "handcrafted" warmth that connects with modern consumers looking for authenticity. Thatâs when I decided to stop searching for standard serif typefaces and started looking into Color Fonts. Specifically, I pulled up Zhanshi Too.
This wasnât just another font download; it was a design asset that promised personality through its very structure. As a graphic designer who values efficiency without sacrificing aesthetic quality, I was curious how this full-color serif would hold up under the pressure of a real-world brand identity system. Here is my honest look at how Zhanshi Too performed, from the first mockup to the final printed packaging.
First Impressions: More Than Just a Typeface
When you first load Zhanshi Too into your design software, the immediate visual impact is striking. It is a pretty serif font, but what sets it apart is the integration of cherry blossom motifs directly into the uppercase letters. This isn't a clip-art overlay or a separate vector shape you have to manually position; the graphics are embedded within the glyphs themselves. This is where the power of OpenType technology shines.
The font features an alternate case (alt case) that introduces additional colors. You can access these vibrant accents through your systemâs glyph map or specialized tools like Silhouette Studio. For a designer working on a brand identity, this means you get instant visual hierarchy and decorative flair without cluttering your layers panel. The cherry blossoms add a soft, organic touch that immediately signals elegance and natureâperfect for our skincare clientâs vibe.
Building the Logo and Primary Brand Marks
In logo design, simplicity is key, but so is distinctiveness. Using Zhanshi Too as the primary logotype allowed us to create a mark that felt established yet fresh. Because the uppercase letters carry the floral details, we used them prominently in the main logo lockup. The serif terminals provided a classic, trustworthy foundation, while the colorful blossoms added a playful, premium feel.
We tested the font on various backgrounds. On white packaging, the black serifs remained crisp and highly readable, ensuring that the brand name was legible from a distance. However, the real magic happened when we utilized the alt cases. By switching specific letters to their colored variants, we created a subtle rhythm in the wordmark. It drew the eye across the text without overwhelming the viewer. This technique worked beautifully for product labels, where shelf presence is critical.
Packaging Design and Product Labels
One of the most challenging aspects of branding is maintaining consistency across different materials. Packaging often requires small text sizes, which can be risky with display fonts. Fortunately, Zhanshi Too strikes a balance between being a creative font and a functional one. While it is best used as a display font for headlines and logos, its readability holds up surprisingly well on medium-sized product labels.
We designed a series of jar labels for the skincare line. The main product name used the standard uppercase with the embedded cherry blossoms, creating a beautiful, cohesive pattern across the entire product range. For the ingredient lists and usage instructions, we paired Zhanshi Too with a clean sans serif font. This contrast ensured that while the brand looked artistic and inviting, the necessary information remained clear and professional. The color font feature meant we didnât have to rely on external illustrations to maintain the botanical theme; the typography itself carried the narrative.
Social Media Graphics and Digital Presence
Digital platforms present a different set of challenges. Screens vary in resolution, and animations require lightweight assets. Since Zhanshi Too is a static OpenType font, it renders sharply on all devices. We used it for Instagram post headers and website hero sections. The boldness of the serif combined with the soft pink and green hues of the alt cases made the social media grid feel curated and high-end.
For web design, the font added character to the homepage without slowing down load times or requiring complex CSS gradients to mimic its effect. Itâs a practical choice for digital templates because it reduces the need for multiple graphic elements. A single text box with Zhanshi Too could replace a complex illustration, saving time during the design process while delivering a polished result.
Font Pairing Strategies
To maximize the impact of Zhanshi Too, thoughtful font pairing is essential. Because this typeface has strong visual weight and decorative elements, it needs support from simpler typefaces. In our project, we paired it with a modern sans serif font for body copy. This combination worked well because the sans serif provided a neutral canvas that let the serif font take center stage.
If you are using this font for editorial design or longer-form content, avoid pairing it with other script fonts or handwritten fonts. The cherry blossom details might compete for attention, creating visual noise. Instead, stick to clean geometric or humanist sans serifs. This ensures that the brand perception remains professional and accessible, rather than chaotic or overly ornate.
Practical Advice for Testing Before Commitment
Before committing to a premium font for a full brand system, always test thoroughly. With Zhanshi Too, I recommend checking the following:
- Glyph Map Verification: Open the font in your preferred design tool and browse the glyph map. Ensure that the alt cases render correctly in your specific software version. Some older versions of design apps may not fully support advanced OpenType color features.
- Scale Testing: Test the font at very small sizes (e.g., 8pt or 10pt). While the serifs are sturdy, the embedded flowers might become muddy if scaled down too much. Itâs best reserved for larger applications like logos, signs, and headers.
- Contrast Checks: Place the font on dark backgrounds and textured images. The colors in the alt cases should remain distinct. If they blend into the background, you may need to adjust the opacity or add a subtle drop shadow.
- Licensing Review: Always check the commercial font licensing terms. Ensure that your intended useâwhether itâs for merchandise, digital ads, or print runsâis covered by the license you purchase.
Final Takeaways for Designers
Zhanshi Too is more than just a pretty serif font; it is a versatile tool for designers looking to inject personality into their work efficiently. Its ability to combine traditional serif elegance with modern color font technology makes it ideal for brands that want to stand out without appearing gimmicky. Whether you are designing a boutique shop sign, a luxury product label, or a creative studio portfolio, this typeface offers a unique solution.
By integrating the cherry blossom details directly into the letterforms, it simplifies the design workflow. You get consistent branding across all materials, from business cards to website headers, with minimal effort. For freelancers and creative studios, this kind of efficiency is invaluable. It allows you to focus on strategy and layout rather than constantly adjusting vector paths.
If you are looking to elevate your next branding project with a touch of nature-inspired elegance, Zhanshi Too is worth serious consideration. It proves that typography can do heavy lifting, serving as both the voice and the visual anchor of a brand identity. Just remember to pair it wisely, test it rigorously, and let its natural beauty shine through in your designs.
