Calisto is a compact text typeface with an expressive style. It is suitable for short or long passages of text, where its large lowercase letters and somewhat narrow proportions make it readable even at small sizes. On the page it gives an even color to paragraph of text. The calligraphic touches in many of its details, including serifs and stroke ends that are cut at an angle to the horizontal, and concave indentations at the ends of letters, become apparent at large sizes, making a subhead or a headline sparkle. It is especially useful in brochures or presentations.
Calisto has two weights, with italics for each. The bold weight is significantly bolder than the regular, and can be used for emphasis. Calisto was designed for Monotype by British type designer Ron Carpenter as a typeface for computer typesetting in 1987.
