Does anyone know of a similar font (regular and condensed serifs that would be a good reference point)?
Also, if anyone can add to this list of things I need to do to tidy up what I'm starting with:
- Remove inconsistencies in weight in vertical, horizontal and diagonal bars.
- H is too narrow
- C/G, O/Q have different counters
- E /F are inconsistent
- serifs are inconsistent
- Z is too wide
Finally, any tips in general on how to approach this job would be really appreciated. I will be working on this solidly from today as I have a deadline of 6 weeks.
Thanks and look forward to reading your comments.
Comments
I would recommend adopting the drop-like triangular serifs as in /S, and making the flat serifs (e.g. on the foot of /A) thinner.
The serifs of /C/G/T feel a bit timid to me. And the white glint in the ball terminals is much finer than the rest of the font's structure; I'd strengthen it a bit. Nice /Q! Is /Z perhaps a bit too wide?
Maybe you can convince your client to allow you to expand it at least to include numbers, punctuation, and the most basic of accented letters? It's not really a font without that, and given the work you've already put in, it wouldn't be such a big endeavor anymore.
Maybe look at Goudy's work?
Thanks John for the link to the ITC hantooled font, that's a great reference. I wanted to lose the rounded ends on the cuts and shape them like the ITC example, but have been told to keep them. I've also been looking at Goudy Handtooled and started thinking the cuts in the characters should be closer to the left side. In the image below I've moved them over a touch on the top line of characters.
I have a question about the W - mainly, is it working? Is it balanced, in harmony? The second V is more narrow and the inside join on the second vertex is quite a bit higher. Dealing with this big serifs, I didn't want to W too wide.
@abi yes, I'm drawing the full character then for now adding the white cuts on top. The client want to use the highlight, ie, with cuts, on top of a fill, 'normal', font. So then they can change the colour of the cuts independently of the general background the type is on.