Blograt

Spike version 3

The Quadrat Spike fonts, including the popular Spike Bold, have now been upgraded. New features include:

• OpenType format for full cross-platform use
• web fonts for @font-face use on the web
• full Western European character set, including the all-important @
• fractions
• new ff, ffi, ffl and ft ligatures
• and new swash caps

The version 3 Spike fonts are a free upgrade for all current licencees. As well, current licencees can also recieve the corresponding web fonts as a free upgrade. Just email me to ask about the upgraded fonts.

Toronto Subway Regular web font as viewed in Safari.

Web fonts for Toronto Subway are now available in the Quadrat font store.

The Quadrat web font licence allows purchasers to use the web fonts on any and all websites they own or maintain. The web font packages include instructions for installing the web fonts and sample settings using the web fonts.

As well, the Toronto Subway desktop fonts have been updated to OpenType, a format which allows the same font file to be used on Macintosh, Windows or Linux.

The web fonts and the OpenType fonts are free updates for all current licensees of Toronto Subway. If you have purchased a licence for Toronto Subway, email me with your name, the email address used when you purchased your licence, the date of your purchase and your invoice reference number. Please also let me know whether you are interested in the web fonts, the OpenType fonts or both. Please allow one or two business days for your request to be processed and the fonts to be sent to you via email.

These updates are open to everyone who has purchased a licence for Toronto Subway, either through the Quadrat font store or through MyFonts.com.

Sparkling wine and a custom-made drinks tray at the exhibit opening on April 7, 2011. Photo: Dominion Modern

A modest, intimate launch was held on the evening of Thursday, April 7, 2011, to mark the opening of Dominion Modern’s exhibit on the creation of the Toronto Subway fonts, entitled “Toronto Subway: A Love Story.” The exhibit has been extended until July 16, at the George Brown College School of Design at 230 Richmond Street East in Toronto (the entrance is on the side lane). Hours are Monday–Friday, 9am–9pm; Saturday, 10am–5pm.

Dominion Modern's Toronto Subway exhibit at the George Brown College School of Design. Photo: Dominion Modern

Display boards from Dominion Modern’s exhibit on the Toronto Subway fonts. Photo: Dominion Modern

The exhibit includes samples of the rubbings and photographs I took of the subway lettering as part of my research, the actual Minolta film camera I used for the photos and a brief explanation of the process involved in developing the Toronto Subway fonts .

If you’re unable to visit the exhibit, you can visit Dominion Modern’s exhibition page. You might also want to check out the latest related video posted on Vimeo, from John Martins-Manteiga’s interview with me, where I talk about why I think modernist heritage and the Toronto subway lettering in particular are important.

Nothin’ new here

I’ve let my subscription expire, but the May 2011 issue of The Walrus magazine still landed in my mailbox this morning.

The cover draw proclaims: “The New Newfoundland,” right on top of a photo of… a mummer. A very nice photo of a mummer, but still…

What’s the message, here? Meet the new Newfoundland, same as the old Newfoundland.