From the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, by way of Toronto, comes Martie's handwriting. Martie Byrd is a school teacher in Roanoke, Virginia, and a friend of Canada Type's Rebecca Alaccari. After years of admiring the cheer and clarity of Martie's handwriting, we asked her to write out full alphabets for some cool font treatment. The intent was to do three different versions of her writing in two different pens, then use the auto-magic of OpenType to determine letter sequences and rotate character sets on the fly when the fonts are in use. A successful endeavor it was. Take a look at the images in the MyFonts gallery to see the character rotation in action, along with a visual explanation of why Martie is not just another handwriting font. Unlike other available felt tip and ballpoint handwriting fonts, the regular and bold variations are style-based, not weight-based. They are the handwritten expressions of two different Sharpie pens: The fine point one (Martie Bold), and the ultrafine one (Martie Regular). The style-based variation considerably helps the realism needed in design pieces that take advantage of the contrast of two different handwriting fonts. Weight thickening in handwriting is an obvious mechanical effect that only happens with computers. Weight changing by replacing pens is what happens in the real world. Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold each contain three different character sets in a single font. Language support includes Western, Central and Eastern European languages for all three sets. This translates into each Pro font containing over 750 characters. Add OpenType code and stir, and you have true handwriting fonts with versatility unavailable out there in anything else of the genre. A software program that supports OpenType features is needed to use the randomization coded in Martie Pro and Martie Pro Bold. Current versions of QuarkXpress and Adobe applications (Photoshop, Illlustrator, InDesign) do contain support for the randomization feature. But if you don't have one of these apps, you can still use the interchangeable Type 1 or True Type fonts and change the characters manually to achieve the appearance of true handwriting. The Martie fonts come in a variety of price packages, from the affordable single fonts to value-laden complete sets. All the proceeds from these fonts received by Canada Type will be donated 50/50 to two primary schools: One in Roanoke (where Martie teaches), and one in Toronto (where the 10-year old, real Canada Type boss goes). So next time a design project needs a handwriting font, do the write thing and use Martie to keep it real.

Quarca's masculine power runs strong across the page with bold self-assurance and a raw energy that courses through its thick veins. Don't think the continuous, smooth geometry of this semi-modular face is captively chained to the grid, though. Quarca has been cautiously optimized to engage the reader's eye. Achieving an attractive balance to its sturdy design, the open forms of this "rounded square" geometric sans -together with a tall x-height- make the font legible even when using the compact widths. This high-impact typeface definitely doesn't sacrifice versatility for style. These compact widths, with their raw heart and strength, are perfect for callouts, while the extended widths provide you with the platform for a punchy and extremely efficient headline. The font has a thinner weight and transcends to an intense bold. The face's geometric or technological construction also tends to make it right at home on the web. The family consists of 36 fonts -six weights plus italics. Where Quarca truly stands out, though, is its wide number of OpenType typographic choices and optional glyphs, allowing you to design your piece with a personal, one-of-a-kind variant touch. These variations consist of Experimental Capitals, Angled Capital Terminals, and "Future Stencil". In all, you can find more than one hundred of these alternate glyphs. Quarca is well-suited for anything you are able to throw at it. Devised for today's multi-disciplined designer, this clear and infinitely versatile family provides tremendous value to your toolbox.