Typophile - Seattle Splash & Dash - Comments

Well, some purists think

hrant — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:02:19 -0700

Well, some purists think even the counterpunch is blasphemous! They say the file and burin are all you should use. I’m no fan of the pantograph-only approach (even though even that can make sense sometimes) but type design is a craft, and as such needs to serve people more than serve one’s own artistic urges, so efficiency is very important. The pantograph, in a hybrid process with manual “post-processing” can be a great contributor to optimal results. In the wrong hands however it can debase type design, like how optical scaling went out the window pretty quickly.

As for the photos, it’s amusing -and gratifying- that you’re reading so much into my camera setup! :-) They were taken with my lowly Ricoh RDC-7*, no tripod, lousy lighting. On a wooden tray in my lap. The secret is the RDC-7’s amazing macro, which can get as close as 1 cm (less than 1/2 an inch). Even with it’s very modest 3.7 megapixel resolution that translates to over 2000 dpi. With a tripod and proper lighting it can do quite an amazing job, especially for its age. And it has some other unique features. I love the little thing, although it’s getting a bit ragged.

* http://www.ricoh.com/r_dc/past/rdc/7/img/index_1.jpg

hhp

What about the old fashioned

Eben Sorkin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:30:48 -0700

What about the old fashioned punch made with the counter punch then? I am thinking of the Van Krimpen argument here BTW.

Those are great images. Was that made with a point and shoot or a dedicated lens? Or a fancy gizmo?

AFAIK he doesn’t cut

hrant — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:24:44 -0700

AFAIK he doesn’t cut punches in his usual production process, but he does know how it’s done. My impression is that a combination of pantography and the burin can often make the most sense.

hhp

Hey! I didn’t know that

Eben Sorkin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:59:33 -0700

Hey! I didn’t know that Jim made punches too!

I’m glad you got some good eats. :-)

Eben, thanks to your Harvest

hrant — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 08:21:56 -0700

Eben, thanks to your Harvest Vine recommendation Simon and I ended up at Txori*, the more casual sister. The portion sizes were like footnotes, but the tastes were like... Raffia Initials.

* http://www.txoribar.com/

On Saturday morning I drove up to New Westminster (through a freak snow storm - very pretty though) and although I was prepared to be impressed by Jim, I was still impressed. We spent an intense five hours using the pantograph (actually two of them), casting type, and punchcutting. Rarefied experiences that I might never again have; lessons that will stay with me for a long time. Some photos:

First, Jim, in one corner of his workshop. On the left side of the photo is one pantograph, for going from a cardboard inset drawing of about 9 inches to a lead plate of about 3; on the right side is the other pantograph, for going from the lead plate to an actual-size matrix.

The lead plate, from a wonderful drawing by Jim. You should see the “g”!

The matrix (16 pt):

And finally the cast type!

Part 2.
A punch of a “J” that I made. Puts Neuland to shame! :-/

And the matrix struck from it:

Something funny happened to the punch, and the resultant matrix impression, upon striking, probably due to the punch being not fully hardened. In the end my “J” had become italic! Two glyphs with one stone, eh? Enjoy.

hhp

I think all that rain stuff

dezcom — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:57:31 -0700

I think all that rain stuff is a big hoax used to scare away Californians. When I was there last Summer for TypeCon the weather was sunny and delightful everyday without a drop of rain!
Enjoy your visit, Hrant :-)

ChrisL

> (hopefully in the company

kentlew — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:21:21 -0700

> (hopefully in the company of Jim Rimmer)

That should be a real treat. Enjoy.

The key to dealing with the Pacific NW weather is to have decent rain gear. Once you get accustomed to wearing plenty of Goretex®, you’ll be fine.

— K.

Tell Jim I said “hi” —

Linda Cunningham — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:06:00 -0700

Tell Jim I said “hi” — he’s a real sweetheart.... ;-)

Simon, I’ll call you

hrant — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 09:02:51 -0700

Simon, I’ll call you Friday PM.

BTW, I’ll be in Vancouver on Saturday night (hopefully in
the company of Jim Rimmer) so that’s another city to rouse...

hhp

You’re not picking a good

sii — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:45:08 -0700

You’re not picking a good weekend weather-wise to be here sadly. I’ll mail you my #’s but I’m going to be away until Friday afternoon - so will also check back here when i get back.

Cheers, Si

>Si, have you been?

Not recently. :-(

Alas, I am too far away to

Eben Sorkin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 22:38:33 -0700

Alas, I am too far away to get mixed in. Send me some email! Bring me up to date. I suggest you eat at Nishino. Or possibly the Harvest Vine. I think they are both still upholding their high standards. Si, have you been?

Katherine, it will be my

hrant — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:41:57 -0700

Katherine, it will be my first time there, and my only worry -being an Angeleno- is that the apparent fixture of rain will damped my experience. Otherwise I have high expectations, especially since apparently even New Englanders seem to think the seafood there has no equal. Well, except maybe Japan.

Simon, if I tell you too much, I will have to kill you. Actually I’ll be staying in... Redmond (major hint) on Wednesday and Thursday nights, while Friday and Saturday are still open. I might actually end up over the border on Saturday. What number can I call you at? Please email me if you like: hpapazian_at_gmail_dot_com. And that goes for anybody else who’d like to hook up.

hhp

Where are you staying wheile

sii — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:44:41 -0700

Where are you staying wheile in town? I can probably break free for a pint (or four) Friday night.

Cheers, Si

Seattle is my favorite city

iffy — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:53:39 -0700

Seattle is my favorite city in the US. If I didn’t have adorable nephews in this area then I’d live there in a heartbeat.
Until I get over my need to be near my family I’ll have to settle for visits a few times a year.

Have fun.

honk if you love the status quo

(No subject)

canderson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:46:42 -0700

Seattle Splash & Dash

hrant — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:39:33 -0700

Being that it doesn’t rain enough over here, and being that said celestial aqua clearly has some impact on quality font development (how else to explain that Adobe and MS live there?) I’ve decided to take a trip up to Seattle, imminently. Actually my reasons are largely non-typographic, but of course any significant travel calls for the rousing of the local font freaks, so I’m hoping that some of you... Seattlenos are game. I will be free* at least this coming Friday night, probably Sunday morning, as well as possibly late Saturday night. And just maybe Thursday night, if you promise not to overly frighten the non—type-geeks (non-type—geeks?) I’ll be hanging out with at that time. Right. As you were.

* Requisite asterisk.

hhp