Type designer Luc(as) de Groot has a large archive of lettering he drew by hand, often to accompany the quirky cartoons which he made in his visual diaries. Only a few of these alpahabets have been digitized into full-fledged typefaces. Punten (Dutch for "points" or "spikes") is one of them. It comes in three styles of varying legibility: Punten Straight, Punten Extremo, and Punten Rondom (Dutch for "all around").

Sheet music for the 1915 song "Is There Still Room for Me Neath the Old Apple Tree" had the title hand-lettered in a condensed, square sans serif. Although far from the more decorative lettering styles of the Art Nouveau period, this type of simple understatement was also a popular choice for the illustrators of the day. It is presented digitally as Nouveau Square JNL in both regular and oblique versions.

Linotype Rowena is part of the Take Type Library, selected from the contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. This text font was designed by the Latvian artist Gustavs A. Grinbergs and is available in six weights, from light to black. The font has a light stroke contrast and its basic forms are the circle, rectangle and triangle, making it a constructed face. The impression of the font on the reader is elegant and cool, very like poster fonts of the 1930s. Linotype Rowena is suitable for headlines and shorter texts with point sizes 12 and larger.

Linotype Zensur is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the entries of the Linotype-sponsored International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. This fun font was created by French designer Gérarld Alexandre and contains one weight. The characters look as though parts of each of them were censored or removed, leaving just enough left over to know what was meant. The basic forms of this font are sans serif and the rounded corners give it an almost soft character. Linotype Zensur is a distinctive typeface which is especially good for headlines in larger point sizes.

Linotype Nowe Ateny is part of the Take Type Library, which features the winners of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contest from 1994 to 1997. Designed by Dariusz Nowak-Nova, Nowe Ateny is a frantic handwriting font whose capital letters include technical-looking grid lines and end points. These seem to anchor the letters without reducing their volatility. The font consciously lacks elements which increase legibility, sacrificing them for the sake of more design oriented ideals. Nowe Ateny is thus good for headlines in larger point sizes, especially when the look of the text is as important as its content.

Linotype Vision is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the entries of the Linotype-sponsored International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. Created by German designer Dan-André Neimeyer, the font contains five weights. The characters look as though they are constructed of fragments fitted only loosely together. Just enough of each character is put onto paper so that the eye of the reader can complete the conventional form. Based loosely on sans serif forms, the font has a futuristic, mathematical feel. Linotype Vision is exclusively for headlines in point sizes of 18 and larger.

Our Special Elite Pro brings the unique individuality of the Special Elite Type No. NR6 vintage typewriter keyset to the digital age. Antique typewriters would type with a warmth and appeal to them, primarily because of their unpredictable “grunge” results from force of keystrokes to ribbon and paper. The SmallCaps and extensive figure sets add a more serious note to the nature of the typeface. OpenType features include: - SmallCaps. - Full set of Inferiors and Superiors for limitless fractions. - Tabular, Proportional, and Oldstyle figure sets (along with SmallCaps versions of the figures). - Stylistic Alternates for Caps to SmallCaps conversion.

Linotype Sjablony is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the entries of the Linotype-sponsored International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. Designed by Dutch artist Mark van Wageningen, the typeface with its interrupted strokes has the characteristics of the stencils seen on crates and barrels. The difference lies in the raw contours of this font, which make the characters look as though they were slowly eroded away by water and wind. Linotype Sjablony is composed exclusively of heavy capital letters and is particular suitable for initials and headlines with point sizes of 18 and larger.

The source of inspiration for Haute Monde Monogram is the 1934 "Book of American Types" by American Type Founders. Found in that specimen book was a wonderfully elegant traditional smallcap-Capital-smallcap monogram alphabet known as “Elite Monogram Initials”. This elegant typeface is now digitally remastered and updated for modern use with functionality beyond its original intentions. Download and view the MFC Haute Monde Guidebook if you would like to learn a little more. MFC Haute Monde Monogram comes complete with Pro format fonts. You will require with programs that can take advantage of OpenType features contained within the Pro fonts.

Linotype Laika is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the entries of the Linotype-sponsored International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. This fun font was created by Dutch designer Mark van Wageningen, who based its forms on those of a sans serif font but gave them wavy, irregular contours. They look almost as though they lie just under the surface of a pool and the movement of the water gives them their undulating appearance. The dynamic Linotype Laika is especially good for headlines in larger point sizes or shorter texts in point sizes of 14 or larger.

Linotype Irish Text is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. German artist Torsten Weisheit designed this font based on Irish scripts of the 5th century. Characteristic of this style is the mixture of upper case letters in the mostly lower case alphabet and vice versa. The letters look as though written with a broad tipped pen and have triangular serifs, displaying a decorative tendency akin to that of Irish calligraphy. Linotype Irish Text is intended exclusivley for headlines in large point sizes.

MVB Gryphius is a digitization of uncommon type from an era normally associated with the work of Nicolas Jenson. Produced by Otto Trace, the fonts come from types used by Sebastian Gryphius in Lyon in the early 16th century. The italic appears in a book from 1524 and the roman and small caps appear with the same italic in another book printed by Gryphius in 1541. Retaining the rough contours and uneven texture of its source, MVB Gryphius is best used at text sizes from 12- to 15-point, but its old world character can work in display settings too.

Linotype Merlin is part of the Take Type Library, which features the winners of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contest from 1994 to 1997. This font was designed by Anne Boskamp and its alphabet consists exclusively of capital letters. At the same time aggressive and sensitive, Merlin looks as though it were scratched onto paper with a pen tip saturated with ink. Like characters from another time, the letters fall into place and make an impression which is both vulnerable and strong, lively and reserved. Merlin’s historical roots lie in the archaic pictograms in the caves of Stone Age civilizations.

Linotype Killer is part of the Take Type Library, selected from the contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests from 1994 and 1997. Designed by German artist Andre Nossek, the font seems to describe the Technosound of the 1990s with its electronically produced sights and sounds. It represents repetition, mass production and conformity. The alphabet consists exclusively of capital letters, all based on a rectangular form, all of the same height, and, with the exception of the I’, all of the same width. The cool and distant Linotype Killer is best suited to short headlines.

Linotype Russisch Brot is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the entries of the Linotype-sponsored International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. The inspiration of German designer Markus Remscheid is not hard to see for those who are familiar with the chocolate cookies in the form of letters which are called Russisches Brot. The font is available in six weights. The basic weight is perfectly legible and is good for both headlines and shorter texts and from there the weights become more and more nibbled away, leaving the basic form of the characters and a few crumbs.

Linotype Sketch is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. German designer Dieter Kurz gave his display font a calligraphic character. The forms lean slightly to the right and have a spontaneous and individual look. This light, cheerful font also displays a harmony among the forms and gives text a personal touch. Linotype Sketch combines well with modern text fonts which have the same narrow proportions. This font is well-suited for headlines and short and middle length texts with point size 12 or larger.

Linotype Not Painted is part of the Take Type Library, chosen from the contestants of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contests of 1994 and 1997. This fun font from German designer Robert Bucan grabs attention immediately. The forms are made up of multiple layers. The upper case’ alphabet forms, numerals and punctuation are two different styles of the same character, one over the other, and the lower case’ letters are composed of the lower case and upper case of the same letter superimposed. Linotype Not Painted is particularly good as a headline font in larger point sizes.

Linotype Beluga is a part of the Take Type Library, winners of Linotype’s International Digital Type Design Contest. The font was designed by Hans-Jürgen Ellenberger to suggest the writing of the Middle Ages but without any specific models from that time. A distinguishing characteristic of the font is its pointed, effusive serifs, which give Beluga its feel of the Middle Ages or of mysticism. In spite of its dynamic character, Beluga is legible even in smaller point sizes, which makes it equally good for headlines as for shorter texts. Beluga combines well with sans serif, slab serif and constructed fonts.

BulletNumbers come in very handy for all kinds of lists that don't exceed 100 categories. I have long since been using my own Bullets in positive and negative and four styles, serif, sans, engravers and script, a fitting one for every occasion. Now I added six more designs and perfected the Bullets for all of you. The following is a »must read«! Here is how to use them: (Important! Set letterspacing to '0', otherwise the two digit numbers will have gaps!!!) The numbers 1-0 reside on the standard keys. Two digit numbers 01-99 can be composed out of left and right half circles by using (lowercase) 'abcdefghij' for the first digit (left half circle) and 'lmnopqrstu' for the second digit (right half circle). The critical pairs (all combinations with 1) can be found in various places. Type '!' for 10, '#' for 11, '$' 12, '%' for 13, '&' for 14, '(' for 15, ')' for 16, '*' for 17, '+' for 18, ',' for 19, '-' for 21, '.' for 31, '/' for 41, ':' for 51, ';' for 61, '?' for 81, '_' for 91. The two arrows are on the < and > keys. '100' can be found with shift+option+1. Last but not least, the capital letter bullets A-Z can be found on the shift+letter A-Z. Your very practical Gert Wiescher

This is a must read!!! BulletNumbers come in very handy for all kinds of lists that don't exceed 100 categories. I have long since been using my own BulletNumbers in positive and negative and four styles, serif, sans, engravers and script, a fitting one for every occasion. Now I perfected them for all of you. Here is how to use them: (Important! Set letterspacing to '0', otherwise the two digit numbers will overlap!!!) The numbers 1-0 reside on the standard keys. Two digit numbers 01-99 can be composed out of left and right half circles by using (lowercase) 'abcdefghij' for the first digit (left half circle) and 'lmnopqrstu' for the second digit (right half circle). The critical pairs (all combinations with 1) can be found in various places. Type '!' for 10, '#' for 11, '$' 12, '%' for 13, '&' for 14, '(' for 15, ')' for 16, '*' for 17, '+' for 18, ',' for 19, '-' for 21, '.' for 31, '/' for 41, ':' for 51, ';' for 61, '?' for 81, '_' for 91. The two arrows are on the < and > keys. '100' can be found with shift+option+1. Last but not least, the capital letter bullets A-Z can be found on the shift+letter A-Z. Yours very practical Gert Wiescher

Golden Wraith Fonts designed the digital typeface Hastynga It began as an effort to find a solution to the digital aesthetic. By distorting digital fonts into a fluid style of writing with a variation in direction between strokes from one letter to the next, Hastynga allows for simulated text imperfection. Its layout creates textual tension, energetic movement, and vibrant vitality.

Buffet Script is based on fantastic calligraphy by Alf Becker, arguably the greatest American sign lettering artist of all time. The Alf Becker series of nameless alphabets published by Sign of the Times magazine in 1941 has attracted letter digitizers for a few years now, so it’s really a wonder that a few of those alphabets are still in the non-digital realm. It is understandable, though, that the basis for Buffet Script was not digitally attempted until now. The page presenting this alphabet shows a jungle of letters running into each others and swashes intertwining. The massive amount of work involved in digitizing such lettering, where scanning is nowhere near being an option, is quite obvious at a mere glance. If anyone was going to commit this particular alphabet to a digital form, it would have to be redrawn stroke by stroke and curve by curve on the computer. And don't we love a challenge! But seriously, the challenge was not the main attraction. In a way, the Becker approach to lettering is so far from digital that the imagination is almost forced to work out possibilities and letter combinations to solve problems presented by the scant showings in that magazine. After a few imaginative visualizations, the digital potential becomes clear in the mind, and the eye and hand follow. The result with Whomp (another Alf Becker-inspired work) was an enormous font with a lot of alternates and ligatures. With Buffet Script the imaginative process was no different, but the result particularly shines here, because this is some of the most fascinating flowing calligraphy ever seen. Calligraphy is where the accountability of all the little extra touches, such as alternates and swashes and ligatures, is raised to a higher level than in most other type categories. Buffet Script’s OpenType programming contains discretionary ligatures, stylistic and contextual alternates, interacting with each other to allow the composition of just the right word or sentence. This font is best used where lush elegance is one of the design’s requirements.

Monotype’s hot metal Bell series from 1931 was based on original types made by the punchcutter Richard Austin for the foundry of John Bell in the 1780s. The different sizes of Monotype’s series were not all based on the same model. As type historian James Mosley wrote on Typophile, “For 18 point and above (the metal type was cut in sizes up to 36 point) Monotype’s model was a larger type [than the model used for the text sizes], the ‘Great Primer’ cut by Austin. This has greater contrast in the capitals and a flat foot to letter a.” The digital Bell closely follows the design of the hot metal 18pt version, and is therefore somewhat lighter in color than the text sizes of Monotype’s original metal face. James Mosley’s Typophile article can be found here.

Poppin is a playful font-type that you can comfortably use in all kinds of styles, from modern to old school. A combination of a few names on an old movie poster is what triggered the creation of this font type. Because it had such a strong rock and roll character, I decided to dedicate a font-type to it. The Poppin font is completely hand-drawn and then digitized. It results in being an extremely user-friendly, complete and modern font that you can use in all your graphic applications. Poppin is a font from the subculture that has been updated to a hip and classy font, ideal for eye-catching designs. Poppin comes in 4 styles, regular, bold , round & bold round. Poppin makes everyone smile!

Garnet is a rare TT typewriter face, made digital from analog samples gathered with great care by Coniglio Type. A time and place; type and life. Garnet Euro Typewriter is the first new release by designer Joseph V Coniglio in over 5 years. It is contemporary designer type, made from the struck steel hammers of an art deco san serif face transferred from a mechanical 1926 Royal Portable typewriter. It has an obsessively complete commercial roman character set ––for the pre-opentype environment of the late 1990's. Yes, it has that great “Monopoly Game” question mark -- and all on a period-piece typewriter! You should have no trouble grafting that sorely needed Euro symbol.” –And he very well did!

Railroad Gothic was originally designed in 1906 for ATF (American Type Founders). This uppercase-only typeface is very condensed and also heavy, giving it a distinct 19th American wood type feeling. Like those 19th Century classics, Railroad Gothic is best used when set really big. Originally designed for use in railroad signage, Railroad Gothic has since been adapted for use in many American tabloid journals, which employ it in screaming headlines. When you need to set something large and loud for the whole world to see, this old ATF classic may be right for you. Railroad Gothic is an all caps font, and is available in digital format exclusively from Linotype. The typeface is included in the Take Type 4 collection from Linotype GmbH."

'Euclid. A New Type,' originally designed in the 1930s by modern American designer Alvin Lustig (1915-1955), has been revived as 'Lustig Elements' through a collaboration of designers Craig Welsh and Elaine Lustig Cohen. Only twelve letterforms from the original font design had been retained in archive material in the many decades since its initial development. Lustig Elements combines four simple, geometric shapes aligned to an underlying grid with letterform designs that hold true to the spirit of the original font. Lustig Elements initially came to life in 2015 as wood type cut at Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. The digital version expands on the basic character set with a pro expanded latin character set, small caps and even an Inline variation.

A long lost Art Nouveau wood type from the Hamilton Museum Collection evokes the excesses of Victorian design and the equally quirky 1960s Psychedelic era revival of the Victorian type styles. Free flowing organic designs that flourished with Art Nouveau in the late 1800s were directly referenced and further distorted with with phototype in the late 1960s. This design, known as Arabesque, was produced by the Morgans & Wilcox Co. and the Wm. Page Co. as almost identical designs. Both manufacturers were acquired by Hamilton and offered briefly by Hamilton as design #618. This curious wood type defies most of the basic tenets of type design and what comes to mind when one thinks "wood type". Many characters have a lively eccentricity that were all left true to the original design. Additional characters were designed to fill out the standard range of characters found in digital fonts. This font includes over 280 characters for full unicode support of Western and Central European Latin characters.

These two extra bold fonts are classic slab serif wood type styles with one detail of difference. Columbian is an extra bold Clarendon wood type that was manufactured by many of the wood type manufacturers in the late 19th century. "Clarendons" feature bracketed or rounded serif joins whereas "Antique" was a class of typefaces that features squared off slab serifs. Some type designs have only minor differences from others. The Columbian design is essentially identical to Wm. Page & Co.'s "Antique no. 4", with the difference being the bracketed serifs. In researching material for the digitization of Columbian, we started with a 15 line font identified as "Columbian" shown in the Angelica Press wood type portfolio (printed in 1976). This font is in fact "Page Antique no. 4". Comparing Antique #4 to Columbian specimens from Hamilton and other manufacturers confirms the only real difference is the serif treatments. Therefore, both fonts are presented as a pair. Each font features a full Western & Central European character set.

Ornata E is the fifth of a series of old ornaments that I am trying to save from oblivion. I am completely redesigning the ornaments from scratch, trying in this one to keep the rough "letterpress" character. These ornaments were designed around 1910, I could not find out by whom. This set is perfect to design flowery frames since it has an enormous amount of flowery things. Your digitizing type-designing savior, Gert Wiescher

Built in 1928 in Wichita, Kansas, the Uptown Theater started out as a movie house, but today still exists as a dinner theater. Online images of this vintage venue’s perpendicular wall sign show the theater’s name in an Art Nouveau influenced angular style with rounded terminals – similar to that of pen drawn sign lettering of the era. Adapted as a digital type font, Silent Film JNL is available in both regular and oblique versions.

A totally off the wall crazy sans serif display type, Beaucoup started as a digitization of a film typeface called “Bippie” by Facsimile Fonts. From there, it was taken and built out to an extensive character set ready to take you for a wild ride. Completely loco, yet somehow still easily legible, this typographic wildchild is dying for you to get your grubby little hands on it and take it for a spin!

Let Me Call You Sweetheart was one of the most popular songs of the early 20th Century, and a piece of vintage sheet music for this tune had its title hand lettered in a square, narrow block lettering style. With a few adjustments and adaptations, this led to the creation of Tall and Narrow JNL, a digital version of the type design which is a perfect alternate to the more conventional condensed faces.

I never needed to digitize this early design from 1988. I found it in a drawer underneath layers of dozens of other type designs. The drawings were made with ink on paper, about 15 cm high, meticulously executed and retouched separate glyphs for a primitive photo-lettering. I used a photographic magnifier to set words and lines in my darkroom. In 2018 I decided to make a font out of it just for fun...

The hand-lettered signage of 1920s and 1930s America produced many typographic jewels that digital type has yet to manifest. This face is but one of them. Unearthed by Alfredo Graziani and Alejandro Paul from a 1923 Speedball lettering manual, Milk Script is a distinctive upright script that offers well-nourished majuscules and sweet-flowing minuscules. A non-connecting variation of this versatile display script is also offered for additional aesthetic control.

The thin, stylish Art Deco slab serif lettering featured on the cover of the 1934 sheet music for “Then I’ll be Tired of You” inspired the digital type face Park West JNL, which is available in both regular and oblique versions. Central Park West has always been the upscale area for affluent New Yorkers, but in the Great Depression years of the 1930s the mystique of the well-to-do held an even stronger significance.