Well, so much for plans. When this typeface package arrive on my doorstep this afternoon between the snowdrifts, I knew I must blog about it. The edge-of-your-seat topic that is “Color Management” will have to hang on a bit longer.
So I did it! For quite some time I have been eying the fine craftsmen at House Industries, particularly their typeface Neutraface. I’m proud to say that I’ve finally made the purchase and what a wonderful decision that was!
Typeface: Neutraface Text, Display and Condensed
Cost: $275
Includes: 36 fonts in a beautiful array of weights
Now, if you’re reading this and you’re saying “Gosh dude, why burn that kind of bank on a font when you can binge on all-you-can-download-for-free-fonts at sites like Dafont.com!!!” I suggest you leave now. Better yet, stick around and learn a thing or two… maybe.
Quite honestly, cost has always inhibited me too. The old adage “You get what you pay for” never helped either. Buying complete typefaces is an expensive endeavor! Frankly, this is a competitive option, dare I say “economical” in comparison to others I looked at. This by no means means “lower quality.” I decided, however, it was time to make a call and buy the face.
The unending problem with free fonts is the lack of variety! As much fun as it is to get free stuff, let’s be real here – how often does a job call for you to a layout making extensive use of even a nice looking free font like Chopin Script? A job should definitely never call for Papyrus. If it does, avoid at all cost. It’s a solid reason for why I’ve avoided Avatar thus far.
Why Neutraface?
I was in need of a versatile typeface for a project I was working on. I wanted to set the whole layout in one face and I’ve always wanted a modern, clean sans serif that was more flexible than Futura and less hackneyed than Helvetica. After much searching, I rested on this typeface when I saw it used on the cover of Charley Harper’s wonderful anthology. I had seen it elsewhere, but this was the final straw for me. I had to have it!
The reason I purchased this face was simple. I love the smaller x-height of the lowercase letters as well as the lower bars in letters like A, E and R. I also love the alternate cuts, which are full on separate full-family fonts, examples are evident in the G. The text version of this family is readable at small sizes and the display family is wonderfully bold. I will likely be overusing Display Titling. Love it!
Also, I e-mailed House industries with a few questions and customer service was not only timely (less than 24 hours) it was friendly, obliging and helpful. Everything my AT&T service is not.
I feel this type-buying thing could be come a hot chocolate like addiction (No coffee for me, 2 cups of hotchoc a day!). It’s unbelievable how something so simple as a few new letterforms can inject life and vigor into a stale project. So I’m already wondering what’s next (far down the road, of course). Cost is even more prohibitive in this decision, but up next I’m eying the Paperback line from House. Such a beautiful serif! I also still have the option of getting Neutraface 2 and Neutraface Slab. 2 raises the bars and x-heights slightly while Slab is self explanatory.
Of course there are a few more I’m interested in from other foundries.
So, what typefaces do you rely on? Are there any workhorses I should be aware of? And how about designers and foundries? Any good, unheard of ones?
Website: Houseind.com
Full Directory: Fonts
