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MADE TO FIT
TypeTogethers primer
about lettering, font usage
and tailored typography
this is
NOT
an end user
license
agreement
Buying fonts has become almost as challenging as using them.
Nowadays graphic designers are faced with a rather complex uni-
verse of legal and technical issues that can turn buying fonts into
a frustrating and time consuming experience. But do not panic!
You will also find some words that will help you understand the dif-
ferent kinds of licensing models, in plain and easy to comprehend
words, but please be warned about the legal validity of this booklet...
Amount of CPUs Whether the font Defines if the font Sets permissions Explains which
and geographical can be placed on can be modified, to transfer the font, uses of the font
locations where the web servers or be decompiled and redistribute or send would require
font can be installed. embedded in files and recompiled. it to a print bureau. additional licensing.
apps.
1. This text is based on the text published by the Association Typographique Internationale called Fonts and Fairness, which
we recommend and is publicly available at <http://www.atypi.org/fonts-and-fairness/five-basic-rules-for-buying-fonts>
Graphic designers: Use this type Web designers: Use this type of Developers: Use this type of license
of license to install TypeTogethers license to host TypeTogethers fonts to embed TypeTogethers typefaces
fonts in your studios desktop and on a web server and use them with in a mobile application, regardless
laptop computers, and use them to @fontface CSS code in your clients of its price, amount of sales and
create artwork for your clients. group of domain names. supported platforms.
So, what is right for your client? Here are a few tips to help you
find your way around this...
RETAIL VS CUSTOM
Retail fonts are ready to be downloaded and TIMEFRAME There are different levels of customization, from
their availability is immediate. Just add them to modifying a couple of characters of an existing
your shopping cart, checkout and you are ready retail font to creating a complete tailored type
to start using them. family. The first scenario takes only a few days,
and the second may take several months.
The fonts in our library are open to be purchased IDENTITY Nothing will represent a company or organiza-
by anyone. Retail fonts can also be adapted to tion more accurately than a typeface designed es-
specific needs, whether they are technical or pecially for it. Tailored typefaces will be consistent
aesthetic. As a result, customers obtain a type- with the rest of a companys branding program.
face that is unique up to certain point, but it is In many cases, a complete typeface is developed
anchored in a retail development. out of the logotype lettering.
Copyright of all of our retail typefaces is owned by COPYRIGHT It is possible to order a tailored typeface with
the original designers. You can purchase, howev- full copyright transfer or not. If the customer
er, a company-wide license which would allow for acquires the copyrights they are entitled to re-
unlimited use of the font files within the broader distribute, give away, or even sell the fonts. Oth-
company structure. erwise they can use the fonts unrestricted within
their organization, but not make them available
to third parties.
Retail typefaces are by definition not exclusive. EXCLUSIVITY When typefaces are ordered with full copyright
However, TypeTogether can offer custom modifi- transfer, the customer receives perpetual exclu-
cations of retail fonts. When these modifications sivity of that design. Otherwise, a limited period
are of an aesthetic nature, such as the redesign of exclusivity can be agreed. TypeTogether then
of some glyphs, these can be purchased as ex- reserves the right to sell the product or a modi-
clusive variations of the fonts. This system allows fied version of it under a different name when this
companies to have unique versions of existing exclusivity period ends.
fonts at an accessible price.
Our fonts are provided in cross-platform Open- COMPLIANCE Custom typography will always comply with the
Type format, and all of the necessary webfont technical and linguistic needs of the customer.
formats. Other formats are available upon re- We take everything into consideration, from the
quest. Our minimum character set covers Latin size of the character sets to the different repro-
Extended A, which supports all of the European duction methods and the customers software
languages and more. Check our website for de- framework.
tails about language and script coverage for each
type family.
The price of our retail fonts depends on the PRICING Pricing for tailored fonts is provided on a per case
amount of characters included. Fonts with small basis. The required amount of letters and scripts,
caps are slightly more expensive than basic ver- complexity of the design, quantity of style vari-
sions. We also have a few free fonts. Check our ations and post-production processes have an
website and download them immediately. impact on the final price of the project.
Without any doubt, one of the most com-
mon requests for custom lettershapes is for
logo refinement. Installing a font and typing
the brand name does not make a logo. This
is due to a wide range of reasons. Main one
being that when we design an alphabet we
make letters in such a way that they can fit
before and after any other letter. This is a
condition inherent to the very definition of
typography. If we knew the final word that
will be written we would certainly make let-
ters differently. And this is exactly what we
LOGOTYPES
do with logos: We interpret the designers
ultimate intention and create and modify
shapes to create a more harmonious, cohe-
sive and appealing shape.
Sub Headline
The logotype was intended to be used in
different functions, scenarios and sizes.
Therefore the design had to be adjusted
correspondingly. In the small version the
contrast between thin and thick strokes
was reduced and serifs were thickened to
guarantee good performance. The mast-
head on the other hand could feature much
thinner strokes and serifs and so have an
Small Size elegant appearance.
FONT CUSTOMIZ
The magic of OpenType Per country brand,
designed by FutureBrand
agency Wieden-Kennedy con-
tacted us with a simple brief:
they needed a stencil version
of Bodoni that supported the
three scripts Latin, Greek
and Cyrillic. However, the re-
quired font did not exist. In-
GREEK
advised a more immediate and
inexpensive solution:
1. We located a version of Bodoni
that already had Latin and
Cyrillic, commercialized by
Russian type foundry Paratype.
the three scripts, added the
stencil cuts and joined
them under the Paratype
Bodoni font file.
fraction of the time and in-
vestment that would be need-
ed for a complete tailored font.
Out of the ten most widely spoken languages only three use the Latin alphabet4.
And even within Latin typography, there is a big percentage of fonts that does
not support Central or Northern European languages.
4. Source: www.ethnologue.com
Standard TypeTogether
LAT character set. It in-
cludes Latin extended A,
discretionary ligatures,
five sets of numbers,
full super and subscript
alphabets, small caps,
math symbols and var-
ied bullets, arrows and
ornaments.
TAILORED !
Pete McCracken together with Cinco Design extra licensing charges. Developing the cus-
commissioned us to create a custom typeface tom font from the companys logotype is often
family for the life simulation hit computer a good starting point. This will ensure visual
game, Spore. The exclusive fonts were to be coherence throughout the brand speaking in
used for all communication material linked to one tone.
Spore including the extensive game manual, In Spores case, the agency indicated three
and the marketing campaign announcing the main features that the fonts should fulfill:
game. The typeface was conceived to be one of 1 Circular geometry, 2 Rounded ends and
the pillars of Spores branding strategy, func- 3Symmetry. Given the multi-purpose use of
tioning in body text as well as in display situa- the Spore fonts, legibility was a clear concern
tions. A tailored typeface greatly supports the during the design. For example, the little out-
companys recognizability and distinctive- stroke on a and q helps to distinguish the a
ness, guarantees the process of exchanging from the o in text setting and it gives the q a
information both internally and externally, bit of idiosyncrasy.
and allows for the companys expansion at no
Brand coherence
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789
The resulting shapes are a bit quirky and rather inspired by
handwriting than printing, e.g. M N W X Y. Although apparently
geometric, letters had to be optically adjusted for them to work
harmoniously in text and to avoid unpleasant dark spots. So
were counters slightly squashed to make them appear round
and all connections were made thinner to avoid blobbing.
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789
TYPOGRAPHY
Find your own style
El veloz murcilago
Abril Display
El veloz murcilago
Abril Almera
Abril Text
El veloz murcilago
The resulting face is based on Abril Text, but due to its display use,
some features were changed. For example, some of the optical
compensations, such as the serif angle, necessary for text sizes,
were removed. This adds to the newsy feel and gives the shapes
more evenness along the x-height. Additionally, the letter widths
and spacing were condensed to fit more characters per line and
the overall color was increased to deliver more impact in large
headlines on the front pages.
G It is important to consider the multiple communication channels
in which a font is likely to be used. Consistent rendering in
different platforms is key to consistent branding.
Delivering on screens
Il1
The serifs in I help to
make a clear distinction
to letter l.
0O
Stressing the brand
68
Clear difference in
construction helps to dif-
hinting is the process by which fonts are adjusted for optimum rendering on computer screens.
Hinting uses mathematical instructions to adjust the display of a fonts outline so that important
parts of lettershapes such as stems or x-height appear consistent in a low resolution grid. At low
screen resolutions, hinting is critical for producing clear, legible text.
1 2
e How long is the text and how is it read? e What about software compliance?
The letter shapes must collaborate towards content delivery and It is important to check whether the font format is compatible
the type family should have enough styles for the design. Also, with your design application. Be careful: some design applications
ensure that the typeface does not produce fatigue in long texts. may have limited support for OpenType features.
FONT
SELECTION
3 4
CHECKLIST
We recommend this 4-step conceptual framework to ask the
right questions in the right order when selecting fonts. A
font selection process that is fully aware of complexities
that go beyond decorative issues can only help to achieve
better design, and it will hopefully guide graphic designers
through a journey of type discovery. Remember, selecting
the right font does make a difference!
UPR E TA I L F O N T S
WEBFONT DESKTOP APPLICATION WEBFONT COMPANY-WIDE
SERVICES LICENSE EMBEDDING SELFHOSTING LICENSE
Use our fonts in your Buy a font from Embed our fonts in a Host TypeTogethers This license allows for
website through the TypeTogethers library. mobile application, re- webfonts on your own unrestricted use of
services of our trusted With our basic license gardless of the amount server, hence con- the fonts within your
partners: FontDeck, you can install the of copies sold or the trolling load speed and broader company
4
Fonts.com, Typekit and fonts in up to 5 CPUs. supported platforms. reliability. structure. Suggested
Webink. for 2000+ CPUs.
FORMAT SCREEN
CONVERSION OPTIMIZATION
Buy re-engineered Request a manual-
versions of our retail ly optimized version
fonts in order to fit of our webfonts, and
your current software host them on your own
MORE BUDGET
workflow structure. server.
LESS BUDGET
TAILORED CUSTOMIZED
LETTERSHAPES FONT STYLE
Request one of our Get a new font style
typefaces with a lim- from an existing de-
ited number of rede- sign, tailored to your
signed lettershapes to communication and
achieve a unique voice technical needs.
for your brand.
TA I L O R E D F O N T S
C /TypeTogether
D /photos/typetogether
HIGH QUALITY FONTS E @TypeTogether
& CUSTOM TYPE DESIGN o info@type-together.com