Typography Reference Guide
Greetings,
This would be my first post here on Typophile. I’ve been searching the internet for a site that analyzes some of the more highly regarded typefaces in history (Baskerville, Bodoni, Gill Sans, Goudy {insert face here}, Cooper, etc.) and deconstructs them in a fashion that describes what is conveyed buy each face’s individual characteristics.
I know that here you have the Typowiki reference, but this just gives a history of each typeface. I’m looking for a more critical analysis. Am I asking too much? Should I look at these faces with a broader eye? Should I look more towards the period from whence these faces emerged?
Any links or book suggestions would be well appreciated.
I love this website, and I find it refreshing that I wasn’t the only one scratching out early font ideas on my notepad instead of listening to my government lecture in high school!
.lazyeye.
11.Feb.2006 3.20pm
http://typophile.com/node/16536
11.Feb.2006 10.26pm
Thank you for the leads. I went ahead and ordered a copy of the Precision Type Font Reference Guide. It sounds like just what I was looking for (according to the reviews on Amazon.com).
If you or anyone else can think of other reference points, do tell!
.lazyeye.
12.Feb.2006 8.12am
I’ve done my diploma thesis on this topic, analysing two fonts in detail: RialtoDF and Syntax. Each font got a small presentation book (~50-60 pages), analysing formal aspects, influences like zeitgeist, technique, font designer and purpose of use. I chose these two fonts because they are quite different (sans serif / serif) but have lots of things in common (humanist ductus, ...).
The theoretical part describes these things in a more common way.
If you want pdfs of it, you can contact me at mitdemmofanachengland(at)gmx(dot)at
sebilar
edit: please consider that the documents are in german...
12.Feb.2006 10.37am
Hrm.. how quickly could I pick up German, do you suppose? :) I think I can translate it at babelfish.com or something. :)
.lazyeye.
12.Feb.2006 5.13pm
> I went ahead and ordered a copy of the Precision Type Font Reference Guide
This is just reference guide. No history.
> I’m looking for a more critical analysis
What is “critical analysis”
Read that:
Anatomy of a Typeface by Alexander Lawson
ABC’s of Type: A Guide to Contemporary Typefaces
by Allan Haley
Alphabet: The History, Evolution, and Design of the Letters We Use Today
by Allan Haley
Fonts & Logos by Doyald Young
13.Feb.2006 11.19pm
> I went ahead and ordered a copy of the Precision Type Font Reference Guide
If you ordered this from Amazon, did it cost you $94? That’s what Amazon and other used bookstore sites (e.g., abebooks.com) seem to charge.
I lucked out and ran across this book recently at the Strand Bookstore in NYC (www.strandbooks.com) for $20. I thought I bought the only copy, but it looks available online....
s’marks
14.Feb.2006 2.33pm
Heh, that’s where I found mine too. I saw two, so I ordered them both. I plan on selling the more used version on eBay. If anyone is interested, and can’t find this book at strandbooks, I will post a link to the auction.
.lazyeye.
15.Feb.2006 12.36am
OK, great, glad you didn’t pay $80-$100 for it. It’s not a bad reference book at $20, but I don’t think it’s worth $80. And, as others have noted, there’s no analysis or criticism, just type samples.
Now the FontBook might be worth $80. Didja see the guy on Amazon selling it for $1200?!
s’marks
15.Feb.2006 10.09am
Haha, I missed that one! I might have to scoop up that edition. Gold inlay, anyone?
.lazyeye.
15.Feb.2006 4.14pm
Looks like babelfish is more expensive than I was hoping for:
Language Pair: German into English
Word Count: 7,968
Rate per word: $0.28 USD
Total Cost: $0.28 * 7,968 = $2,231.04 USD
Thanks again for the attempt!
.lazyeye.