Topography Discussion: Condensed Technical Fonts
by Adam Oberdorfer, Mon, 2001-07-23 19:52
They look cool if used properly
100% (10 votes)
Yuck!
0% (0 votes)
Total votes: 10
by Adam Oberdorfer, Mon, 2001-07-23 19:52
Shotaker posted this at 00:56 — 4th August 2001.
They have: 48 posts
Joined: Apr 2001
I agree that the fonts look nice and everything, but that still doesn't change the fact that 90% of the buying power in America are people between the ages 40-50... And then if you figure a good percentage of the people in those age brackets need glasses to read, why would you want to make it more difficult for them?
Just my opinion..
disaster-master posted this at 09:16 — 3rd August 2001.
She has: 2,154 posts
Joined: May 2001
I like them if they are used tastefully. I think they have sort of a 'millenium' look about them. Remember the space movies years ago about life in the year 2020 (which isn't that far away now) and fonts similar to these were used? I think that maybe people use them because they are sometimes associated with computers and cyber things.
Here is a site with a few small fonts. They have a nice collection of everything else too. http://www.fontsnthings.com/themes/hardlines.html
I usually get my fonts at http://abstractfonts.com/setup.html
They have a good choice of fonts in general there. I like how they have a customize preview. You can see what the font will look like before you D/L it.
disastermaster
KeithMcL posted this at 08:29 — 3rd August 2001.
He has: 176 posts
Joined: Oct 1999
I too think that they are easy to read, but can't imagine trying to read them on a higher screen resolution than 1024x768 which is what I use.
I think that the type of people that would like them would be more technically inclined type, whereas normal john does that are not request internet (or computer) users probably wouldn't because the wouldn't be used to seeing that kind of font in magazines and whatnot.
sersun posted this at 07:57 — 3rd August 2001.
They have: 32 posts
Joined: Aug 2001
That raises an interesting point, Shotaker.
Most of us said that the fonts were "easy" to read, and you said they were hard to read. I would like to know if there are any studies out there that show what sizes are too small for people in general.
There is a difference between a font that is "not as easy to read" and one that is impossible to read, in terms of how we use them in design.
For instance, I think it is acceptable to use a tiny font for links to functions that are rarely used, copyright info, and other non-critical purposes. Yet you wouldn't use that same tiny font for things that the eye spends lots of time on (news stories, main content), or important links (eg, main sections of a website).
What do you think?
sersun
Shotaker posted this at 09:31 — 2nd August 2001.
They have: 48 posts
Joined: Apr 2001
I think the fonts are too hard to read. What's the point of making a website with tiny fonts that look cool, but no one normal can read?
Fringey posted this at 00:19 — 2nd August 2001.
They have: 68 posts
Joined: Apr 2001
I really like them. I agree that because they are so readable and take up so few bites on a gif they won't pass as just another fad. They probably will lose popularity, and their uses will be for more specific purposes after they've been around for a little while but still will be there.
There are definately some hideous ones but many of them look even almost elegant.
sersun posted this at 05:31 — 1st August 2001.
They have: 32 posts
Joined: Aug 2001
From a technical standpoint, I like them because they are amazingly easy to read even at such small sizes.
For that reason I don't think they will pass as a trend (at least until we commonly have 300 dpi monitors). And, as Suzanne's link shows, there are various styles of pixel fonts. Hopefully that will keep them from looking cliche.
Steven
sersun
Suzanne posted this at 21:14 — 24th July 2001.
She has: 5,507 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
The 5-7-8-9 px aliased font has been around for a couple of years now, and used in print. Once it gets to print, you're pretty well assured it's run its course of being a fad on the web. They are used well in some places, not so well in others.
A comprehensive look: http://www.wpdfd.com/pixelfonts.htm
Suzanne
merlin posted this at 09:27 — 24th July 2001.
They have: 410 posts
Joined: Oct 1999
i really like them, but after viewing all the sites you posted, i'm having enough of them for today.
it's the same with every kind of trend: it starts slowly, then comes the hype and after only the hardcore-fans still use it...
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