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Arial
- Thread starter rydods
- Start date
Johnny Best
Active Member
Spoken like a true Southerner.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
What a great font with so many varieties to choose from.
Scotchbrite
No comment
I don't call it Arial, I call it "default" font.
vondegroot
bad design kills
Arial is a Helvetica wanna-be.
Arial isn't really a true Helvetica knock-off, although it does deliberately copy the metrics of Linotype's first Helvetica digital font files. More on that here:
www.marksimonson.com
Rather than be a Helvetica look-alike such as Swiss 721, Nimbus Sans or CG Triumvirate, Arial is more of a Frankenstein's monster hodge-podge of styles. There is some Helvetica in there along with bits of Akzidenz Grotesque, Bell Gothic and other sans typefaces.
It's pretty easy to spot the visual differences between Arial and Helvetica. I think Arial has a pretty harsh look to it due to all the odd angled cuts and sort of crooked flow of its letter strokes. The 1957 cut of Helvetica has some of its own ugly-ish problems, which were cleaned up in the larger and more useful 1980's Helvetica Neue super family. Further improvements were made with Helvetica Now, first in 2019 with a series of static display, text and micro styles, then in 2021 with a variable version. I think Monotype may release a second variable version. The current one has a variable width slider that goes from standard width to compressed. They need to make another version going from standard width to extended or wide.
The Scourge of Arial
Rather than be a Helvetica look-alike such as Swiss 721, Nimbus Sans or CG Triumvirate, Arial is more of a Frankenstein's monster hodge-podge of styles. There is some Helvetica in there along with bits of Akzidenz Grotesque, Bell Gothic and other sans typefaces.
It's pretty easy to spot the visual differences between Arial and Helvetica. I think Arial has a pretty harsh look to it due to all the odd angled cuts and sort of crooked flow of its letter strokes. The 1957 cut of Helvetica has some of its own ugly-ish problems, which were cleaned up in the larger and more useful 1980's Helvetica Neue super family. Further improvements were made with Helvetica Now, first in 2019 with a series of static display, text and micro styles, then in 2021 with a variable version. I think Monotype may release a second variable version. The current one has a variable width slider that goes from standard width to compressed. They need to make another version going from standard width to extended or wide.
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vondegroot
bad design kills
Akzidenz and DIN are my go to SS typefaces. Arial IS ugly!
And don't get me started on Myriad, hahaha!
And don't get me started on Myriad, hahaha!
Scotchbrite
No comment
Our other designer here really disappointed me the other day. She's loves to use "default" font (I've threatened to remove it from her computer). She did a well site sign that just needed the name on it, no logo or anything. The name was "Myriad Resources". I was so bummed she used "default" font and not Myriad! I mean if ever an opportunity presented itself for the use of Myriad!
vondegroot
bad design kills
The lazy CorelDraw user creates new document, BAM. Arial based art. Meanwhile...
the lazy Illustrator user creates new doc... BAM! Myriad based art.
the lazy Illustrator user creates new doc... BAM! Myriad based art.
It's a rare occasion I'll encounter a client that requires Arial to be used in the layout. The only time I've had such a requirement result in a decent looking sign: a sign for Altus Air Force base at the Falcon Road gate. The logo specified polished chrome letters set in Arial Black along with a polished chrome Air Force Icon.
All too often when I see default Arial used in sign layouts the lettering is squeezed or stretched to barely fit into the space.
Myriad doesn't offend me nearly as much as Arial. But it is a stubborn default choice for people sleep-walking a design project through Adobe applications.
All too often when I see default Arial used in sign layouts the lettering is squeezed or stretched to barely fit into the space.
Myriad doesn't offend me nearly as much as Arial. But it is a stubborn default choice for people sleep-walking a design project through Adobe applications.
Notarealsignguy
Arial - it's almost helvetica
Scotchbrite
No comment
I was just thinking the other day I can't remember the last time I used Cooper Black. Used to be used a lot.
Scotchbrite
No comment
The squeezed versions are particularly annoying because there is an Arial Narrow option.
Johnny Best
Active Member
DYNOMITE!